WAKWIB

janeandraka FYI in case you didn't know the positions in a Troop are: Patrol Leader,Assistant Senior Patrol Leader,Senior Patrol Leader,Troop Guide,Order of the Arrow Troop Representative,Den Chief,Scribe,Librarian,Historian,Quartermaster,Bugler,Junior Assistant Scoutmaster,Chaplain Aide, or Instructor I would think it possible that your younger son could fill one of these positions. As for all the multiple postions/per scout thing going on there, that really is not a great scenario. It's do-able in some cases, but why? All Scouts need to have the opportunity to excerise a responsibility in the troop.

I guess the parents must be comfortable about this kind of risk-taking. IMHO, the drive to simply set any kind of "the youngest..." record is a grab for fame. And probably short-lived at that. Someone else will come along to steal it eventually. Maybe "the youngest female to circumnavigate the globe blindfolded"

NE-IV-88-Beaver It may be that her overall "feel-good" customer satisfaction level with this forum has dwindled. Keep in mind that a fair number of posts have: a) Tried to read-between-the-lines and question the character of her son. b) Have accused her of being a liar. Given that, she may not feel too frisky about telling us anything about the situation.

BP I'm not 100% sure I this, but I don't think any of the links or citations BA has used in this long thread (and the other one that had to be closed) have come from FOX or Rush. This recent one certainly did not come either of them. Instead of just trying to put BA in his place, could you share with us a compelling article or two that presents a case for AGW? Specifically how AGW is a clear and present danger and what steps should be taken to stop it.

I seem to be able to get into most ceremonies with this password: "Bawitdaba-da bang-da-bang-diggy-diggy-diggy said the boogie-said up jump the boogie" There are certain hand motions associated with it.

First, let me "second" what bear dad said in reference to the cancer. I hope that will be a trail you never have to walk again. As you grow in your local program, you will also grow in local resources in your scouting community. Overall, this is a fun and informative forum. But, aside from hard policy, much of what we have to offer is subjective based on experience. And you might detect a bit of bias from time to time. But even operating in that realm, you will almost always find a good take-away point or two I think your questions are great and show you that you are and will continue to be a good leader. I'm sort of a rookie myself. I was active as a youth from 1971-1981 but, after that. my involvement was slim-to-none until 2000. And even over the last 10 years my involvement and responsibilities with Scouting vary due my work schedule. So for me these forums serve as part of my connection to the program when I have to go for months without personal scout/scouter contact. Keep Posting and Happy Trails!

The reason I started this thread was to see how folks might define the terms they use. And it has produced some thoughtful feed-back. I first heard the terms "merit badge mill" and "Eagle mill" long ago in the dim ages when I was strongly considering a career in Youth Agency Administration (AKA-scout professional). My first year of college I attended a school in the mid-west which was the birthplace of the American Humanics program which specialized in training for this type of work. Some of my fellow students used these terms when referring to a nearby BSA council. The council was and is quite large in terms of membership. It was my home council, so it seemed to me that this was something I should think about. They never really laid out any details why they thought it was a "mill". Really, the simple math would suggest that a council with approx 7,000 or so scouts may yield more merit badges and Eagle ranks earned than one with, for example, 2,000. The "critics", who came from smaller councils, in my estimation at the time were haboring a bit of a complex.....maybe. Since they had never visited troops, camps etc. in the Mill Council, it might just be that they were parroting something they heard. Seeing these terms applied to troops is something I've only encountered on these forums. Over time of the interpretations I've seen have some real merit, and some have a bit of the flavor that pohsuwed describes. One big concern that I can see would be if a Scoutmaster, Merit Badge counselor, etc, was truly watering down requirements just to drive kids on a fast-track to Eagle. (This message has been edited by WAKWIB)

Man, I think I'll go for a hike this weekend just to try out le Voyageur's special recipe!

ScoutNut: Glad to see your son stayed very active giving leadership in the Scouting program. At a certain age a young man's Scouting "work" can extend far beyond the Troop and do much good to the other areas of the organization. Too bad his Scoutmaster chose to harp on your son's attendance instead of kindly recognizing his efforts to earn his own money and being happy to see him when he could. Like us adults, the older Scout wants a place to serve where he feels welcomed and appreciated.

Frequently on these forums we read the terms: "merit badge mill", "Eagle mill", etc. New folks to Scouting, and maybe even a few vets, may not completely understand the point that is being made when these terms pop up in a discussion . When this element of Scouter-speak is used the apparent intent is that the mill-syndrome is something to avoid, or perhaps correct. So maybe we can take this thread in the following direction: The Mill Syndrome What are the symptoms? What are the effects? (maybe more specifically, can this syndrome negatively affect the aims and methods of Scouting?) What can be done to treat it?

Beavah sez: "I can name a half dozen troops like that without strainin'." What is the possible reason that it is working for them in spite of the many variables already discussed? Do you see common things in their program?

Well in cool or cold temps. obviously there are more ways to regulate your comfort. Summer in Missouri, the heat and especially the humidity are legendary and there is not much of a way to escape it. Maybe, for me anyway, the big drawback in winter camping is that I drink way too much coffee around the campfire before hitting the sack. Crawling out of a nice, warm sleeping bag once or twice in the middle of the night to go for a "nature" hike....

"NOPE! He looked at me and tells me : "Dad, that's the kind of thing a Cub Scout does!" " That was really a good word Mr. Scoutfish!! Attaining the "goals" of the Oath and Law are a process not an event. Goals maybe a term that doesn't exactly fit. For me personally I view them as tools to guide me along the path of life to be the kind of person my God wants me to be. I first recited them about 39 years ago at my first Boy Scout meeting. I'm sure that had some impact on my development then. However, I went through a very, very dark period of life in my early twenties where I not only fell short of the standards of the Oath and Law but was somewhat the antithesis of them. By the grace of God, I came out of that valley and started the climb again. I'm glad that I could recover those tools from my youthful Scouting days and put them to use again. I'm very glad to be able to share those tools of the Oath and Law with fellow Scouts and Scouters today as they journey through life.

No doubt, the time frame of this process has exceeded most folks expectations. Does that make it a hoax, and support the notion that no appeal was actually filed. Absolutely not. For it to be a hoax would imply from the very first word of her very first post, mdsummer set out to intentionally deceive this forum along with the other one she posted on prior to this. Personally, I never got "the feel" that this person was toying with us. And several others have backed up her story. The implication of a hoax projects on them as well. Fairly confident that I'm beating a dead horse here, but it seems really odd that the good folks who jumped on the wagon at the start, typing up advice as fast as they could, would suddenly drop this as a hoax based on nothing else than: "it's taking too long."

It appears the ScoutNut said the baking soda was the "powdered bones." So perhaps these were pre-smashed and prepared by Meteu the Medicine Man in his Lodge on the Deleware River. Although figuring out a method making it like actual bones would be cool.

the thread that never dies...Reminds me of an old camp song, "The Cat Came Back!" nldscout sez: "I hope by now everyone realizes this is just a hoax and no appeal was ever filed" No. I, for one, haven't realized that yet. That statement's been tossed out a couple times. It's a rather strong statement which suggests that the mother, and several who have assisted her and who have posted in the last couple of weeks are bold-face liars. Can you back that statement up, nldscout? I've heard the line: "No appeal ever takes this long." I can't refute that. But that answer doesn't satisfy the question of whether these people were lying or not.

I think it was the hope of the founder of Scouting that the movement would be a catalyst for societal change not just in England or the States, but throughout the world. I happen to believe that in many ways the BSA has been a focused force for good in America the last 100 years. And if each of us did not think that the Scout Oath and Law were beneficial to society we wouldn't be posting on this forum or spending our time and money with this organization. Really, our only long-term, and hoped for payoff for working in Scouting is to see boys become mentally and physically fit men of good character and responsible citizenship. And we can have a ton of fun along the way!

BadenP sez: "Next, kids are sold an idea by proper and relevant advertising that appeals to them in the media types they frequent, not at 2am in the morning like past scout ads have appeared. The BSA has failed to understand for the last 30 years how to use CORRECT advertising to build membership, and the numbers prove it." That has always been a bit of a mystery to me as well, BP. I don't remember any stand-out television ad campaigns in recent years. Now my viewing of the tube is rather limited, so I may have missed something. If such ad campaigns have happened, are they at the times, and on the networks where the target audience can be found? I do think that viral promotion via Facebook, YouTube,etc is gaining some momentum and could definitely help the organization. A venue like Facebook might be an interesting place to launch a polling attempt as has been discussed on this thread. I hate to think of National trying to re-invent the wheel because of dropping membership, a decline that may possibly be largely because of a dip in the available boy population at this time. And based on what I'm seeing in the kindergarten dept. at our church right now, that pendulum may swing back in a big way soon. The boy numbers in that specific dept. have quadrupled recently. Tinkering with the program is not the answer, IMHO. Better and bolder salesmanship is.

John-in-KC sez: "Of course, GSLAC is never wrong." I may be talking out of my hat here, John. But just the description of their Rally sounds pretty amazing to me. Does our beloved HOAC do anything really equal to that? Something that might be considered "National" caliber? Again speaking from a platform of virtual ignorance of the Venturing program in our town, it just seems to me that it has been a little slow to take off. Our mutual district seems to have a fine crew or two, but I'm not seeing a lot from the Council as a whole. And if you're comparing apples-to-apples I would think our Venturing program should rival in size and scope to the one in St. Louis. Just my two-bit observation.

Scoutfish, Recently I read the book "The Greatest Generation Speaks", by Tom Brokaw. It was comprised of letters written from vets and others from that time in response to Brokaw's prior book "The Greatest Generation" (I have not read that one yet). Very interesting stories of life in training, combat, and stateside during WWII. Look it over before giving to your son, but I don't recall any questionable material.

Generally speaking, my coolest thing was the six summers I worked on staff at summer camp. The various relationships and experiences with fellow staffers, Scouts, and Troop leaders are way too numerous to list. I would end up writing a book! I was very, very fortunate to have had that opportunity.

Frankly, I would welcome more citations of articles of the "credible research" from the "myriad of scientists." In the last lengthy thread on this topic the anti-AGW team in the debate produced a ton of documentation (ie-article citatations and the like), whereas the pro-AGW team told us the evidence was there but did not put out a lot of references. I'm sure there is abundance of sources, they just didn't seem to come into play. In terms of the weight of documentation, the anti-AGW team made a much stronger case. Also, I would like to see some thoughts on how AGW (assuming the threat is real) would affect the Scouting program. Maybe that should be another thread. But really, I would think that the purpose of this sub-forum should be to discuss "issues and politics" that may directly impact Scouting program and policy.

Actually a good reason we might not need another thread on the topic is the inability of folks to argue reasonably. The first comment out of the chute is simply an insult: " Brent I bet you also get all your news from the Fox network as well, in addition to Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson, lol. If nothing else you really are always good for laugh." The article cited came not from Limbaugh, or Robertson, or Fox. So what was the point of that jab at BrentAllen?

I know guys on this forum could give some very good suggestions to any real specific questions you might have. It looks like your seeking just some good general information to start with. I found this list which seems pretty informative. http://www.boyscouttrail.com/library/wintercampingtips.asp Your needs will vary depending on the extremes of the cold. There is a huge difference between 30 degrees and 10 degrees. And you do need to consider the "wet" factor...rain or snow will add to your preparation needs.

AGW= Absolutely Great Waffles Nothing better. The down side is that in order to cook them some form of energy must be used. One may have to burn something to create the heat required, and that simple act (especially if every one on the planet decides to cook waffles at the same time) could possibly destroy the planet! Has anyone tried to make waffles in a solar oven? That might work.