WAKWIB

I do truly feel sorry for the family on their tragic loss. I also feel sorry that they have hired an ambulance chaser with a strong flair for theatrics to represent them.

The post that mentioned "written procedure" offers an unfortunate (for BSA) outcome to the case. Which may be how it plays out. Documentation is found in the section of Business 101 entitled "Cover Your Rear".

I'm seeing some great ideas here. When it comes to OA and summer camp "one hand washes the other" so to speak. The more that the Order is in evidence at camp, the more interest and excitement it builds in the first year campers, which hopefully means they keep coming back. And to promote camping is of course one of the stated purposes of our Order.

If I am reading this article correctly, it's the council chairman who is the one having to answer for this to the press. A volunteer, who I am sure has many things to do beside damage control for the professional money-grubbers. Where's a statement from the National Council-most likely too busy cooking up other schemes to seperate good people from their money. And when the next scandal comes to light it will be us volunteers who will have to pick up the pieces and provide the program that our youth desperately need.

Welcome to the forum. I hope you can get re-involved with Scouting. I am sure you will find a niche to fill somewhere, and maybe you can even re-ignite the dance team you mentioned.

Cheers to Camp Geiger and the "Mother" Tribe.

I was raised on the H. Roe Bartle Reservation. Heart of America Council.

1971-1975 as a camper; entered the Tribe of Mic-O-Say in '75

Worked on Staff 1976-1981

In '81, my staff position required me to attend National Camping School, so I spent a week at Camp Mitigwa, in Iowa.

I also went to Philmont in 1977.

Now in my "mature years" LOL, I've gone back to the same great camp with the Troop I serve for the last couple of summers, and this summer will spend a session on the staff working with the Outpost program.

I think the medium of the internet is probably one of the greatest and most affordable ways for Scouting to advertise. If your Troop or Pack does not have a web-site, now is the time to step into cyber-space.

It also should make us aware that what we say and how we say it on this and other Scouting forums, could be sending either a positive or negative image of the program to thousands of people.

TV ads would be nice, but they just aren't happening. So it's really up to each unit,and each Scout and Scouter, to do the best they can to get the word out

Eamonn, a possible middle name for the hound. Maybe RORY ROBERT. Kind of corny but I was thinking Robert in honor of B-P.

Just an idea. Hope your surgery goes well.

I won't take up space with a list of goodies that I got.....

But Her Majesty whom WAKWIB serves, has allowed the humble WAKWIB to attend a camp staff reunion tomorrow night. Much fun will be had by all. I suppose I should consider that a gift of major magnitude!!!

"o holy night" is one of my favorites as well. Thanks I needed that!

God rest ye merry gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember Christ Our Saviour

Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray

Oh tidings of comfort and joy!!!!

Thanks to all for another year around the internet campfire!!

Merry Christmas,

WAKWIB

and to Mr. Merlyn LeRoy and his pals at the ACLU a special MIC-O-SAY blessing

"May the Great Spirit work sunrise in your heart!!"

Although I don't post as much as others here, I read often, and have learned a bit. Bob White was/is one of the more useful contributors.

I find his by-the-book approach very refreshing, after seeing many examples over the years of poor application and downright ignorance of the Scouting program. Following his advice could actually make life easier sometimes. I wish him well!!

That was a great story.

I think that group of Cubs started a great tradition that will last for years to come.

amouse,

I agree with Eamonn. You would find most of the adult stuff rather boring.

Your best bet to get involved with Scouting at a larger level in your District or Council would be through the Order of the Arrow and/or serving on the summer camp staff. There may be some other options I can't think of at this late hour that I'm posting.

WAKWIB

OGE, The idea is good. But to use an old expression, it may be like trying to reinvent the wheel.(a re-hash of Quality Unit)

I think it would be a difficult thing to keep it an objective type of thing as well. Adult leadership in Scouting seems to thrive on the "good-old boy network" type of environment. And it seems that everywhere I turn, folks are more eager to look for the exception rather than the rule. Most everyone who posts here knows what a battle it is to keep a Troop doing it by the book. I'll keep thinking about your idea though. This is just my initial reaction.

Welcome to the group. Sorry, you got a Missouri Eagle here, but I hear Kentucky and Ohio are great.

Like you, I'm doing my return trip to Scouting. I was away from the program for about 15 years, but Scouting found me again. My oldest son joined a Troop 4 years ago, and I'm back in the game. Enjoy Round 2 of a great adventure!

Glad you are in Scouts, and welcome to the forums.

A couple of ideas to get you going as a Patrol Leader.

Get a little note book and write down ideas for things you would like to do with your patrol, activities that you would like to see at troop meetings..and other stuff like that. It's sometimes easy to forget good ideas or things you need to do. Keeping notes is a good habit to get into.

Make an effort to be a friend to your patrol members. Invite them to your house just to do fun things like video games, movies, junk food, football or baseball.. whatever you like to do. When your patrol is full of friendship you can work together a lot better on campouts and meetings.

Keep asking for advise from your SPL and the Scoutmaster. If you let them know you want to be the best patrol leader you can be, they will help you out.

Proud Eagle, Just curious as to what your responsibility for 2005 is. You have a pretty impressive track record, so whatever it is, I'm sure you will do a great job.

Yes I am proud to be an Arrowman. I entered (as an adult) a year ago, and I regarded being selected to go through the Ordeal as a high honor. The real honor of it was to be able to take part in the Ordeal with 6 great boys from the troop I serve. They were very excited about it, and in a sense I got to be one of them and share in their excitement. I'm looking forward to my continued participation with the Order of the Arrow.

Missing Tent Stakes. Yes it is a universal dilemma. Some theories have been advanced as to why this happens.

1) Alien abduction. ET's are interested in how we are progressing in the development of light metals.

2) Global Warming. As a result of the greenhouse effect the surface of the earth has become more porous, and the stakes are being absobed into the ground at a rapidly increasing rate.

3) Genetic Mutations. Due to the increase of chemical pollutants, new strains of bacteria have emerged that can devour metal in a matter of seconds.

4) Covert Operations. Ultra-extreme environmentalists who believe that driving a stake into the ground causes pain to the Earth-goddess, have infiltrated the Scouting movement and are secretly removing and destroying tent stakes whenever they can.

Finally,

5) Friendly Ghosts. The happy spirits of long-deceased Scouters are sometimes allowed to roam among us in order to engage in a good-natured prank. (if you ever find a tent-stake in your washing machine, you know you have been "visited")

I'd have to give it a 10.

It's not always a perect 10.

But any experience that is worthwhile will have it's challenges, and even an outright failure from time to time.

I loved OGE's post on this topic, BTW.

Honestly, it seems that the kids in the Troop I serve do a better job with this Scouting thing than I did when I was a boy. I'm actually learning some things from them, which makes my overall experience that much richer.

I'm curious as to how a chaplain could serve an avowed atheist.

My understanding is that a chaplain for the most part serves those who share his/her faith or are interested in learning about it.

I'm thinking here, Merlyn, that when you refer to Scouts excluding someone, you have the avowed atheist in mind.

And honestly, I don't see how Scouting "actively" seeks to exclude the atheist anyway. In the cases that have come up, it seems that the atheist is the one who wants to exclude God from the equation, and are asking the Scouts to change the formula of their oath to accomodate them. How is that a Constitutional issue anyway?

I had a kid in our troop come up to me a couple of years ago who told me he was an atheist. Did we throw him out? No. In other words, he kept an open mind about it, and I (who happen to be a fairly devout Christian) didn't beat him over the head with religion. He is still a very active and productive member of the troop. He told me recently that he now believes there is a God. I guess the point I'm making is that he was man enough to tolerate our position about God, and not whine and complain about it.

I'm curious as to how a chaplain could serve an avowed atheist.

My understanding is that a chaplain for the most part serves those who share his/her faith or are interested in learning about it.

I'm thinking here, Merlyn, that when you refer to Scouts excluding someone, you have the avowed atheist in mind.

And honestly, I don't see how Scouting "actively" seeks to exclude the atheist anyway. In the cases that have come up, it seems that the atheist is the one who wants to exclude God from the equation, and are asking the Scouts to change the formula of their oath to accomodate them. How is that a Constitutional issue anyway?

I had a kid in our troop come up to me a couple of years ago who told me he was an atheist. Did we throw him out? No. In other words, he kept an open mind about it, and I (who happen to be a fairly devout Christian) didn't beat him over the head with religion. He is still a very active and productive member of the troop. He told me recently that he now believes there is a God. I guess the point I'm making is that he was man enough to tolerate our position about God, and not whine and complain about it.

Doesn't the military provide chaplains for almost every major religion? They conduct services on military bases. In my mind this seems to be a bigger step towards the establishment of religion than providing a meeting room for a Scout troop. The Scout troop may not be that "religious" anyway. I have yet to go to a Monday night Scout meeting where the gospel was preached, or communion taken,etc. Yet I would suppose this would happen at various base chapels.

I guess this is something I've known for awhile, but it's become more evident the longer I am a leader. Kids need a lot of challenging but positive affirmation. They need to be presented with a job to do, and to be told they did a good job...and sometimes a few positive suggestions on how they could improve. The "attitude" of good Scouting is maybe more important than the depth of skill.

Well...Scouter is one of a few hats that I wear. I'm heavily involved in the children's ministry at our church. I'm also a parent-volunteer with a youth community theatre group that my oldest son performs with. My youngest son recently signed up with a basketball league, and I imagine I will get to invest my "just one hour a week" with that enterprise. I actually anticipate getting more involved with Scouting at a District or Council level after my sons have left the nest. I don't think that I will ever completely let it go.