Pack18Alex

It's not an option. Jewish law prohibits establishing a new structure during the Sabbath. So the tent needs to be up before Shabbat starts. Can't cook on the Sabbath, food has to be cooked before hand (or started just before and left to cook overnight, which is how our lunch is made. We have the gear to do it, and the plans on how to do it. The Jewish Committee is planning adult training to take place during our Kinnus (Jewish Campout, Hebrew for gathering), so we can get people trained during Sunday (and some training that is more discussion based can take place on Saturday). The ru

The rule seems pretty clear, if a youth is eligible for membership according to CO rules, then he is allowed in regardless of his same sex attraction or opposite sex attraction. However, there is no obligation of the CO to accept people if their membership policies prohibit it. The BSA rules prohibit sexual activity for scouting age youth regardless. Though in practice it seems more likely that a scout having a girlfriend would not be assumed to be sexual activity while a scout with a boyfriend would be more likely to do so. Honestly, a conservative church based group uncomfortable wit

We haven't done either, but if there was a request to get dinner in for a committee meeting, I'd probably do it. I normally host them at my house late at night (my wife and I are the only couple with both spouses involved, so this avoids our needing a sitter). However, if we wanted an earlier time, I'd have ZERO problem with using Unit funds for dinner and childcare. Here is my reasoning, EVERYONE that is active and involved on the committee are also the people that are out there selling Camp Cards, selling popcorn, volunteering in the Unit, etc. We all pay the same dues, but the commi

Knew a bunch of Mormons back in school... absolutely fantastic people... as are the ones I do business with. The religion seems kooky because its SO modern... talking burning bush seems reasonable as a childhood story, move it from ancient Egypt to upstate New York and it becomes kooky. Don't have much of an opinion on LDS and Scouting, just an opinion that LDS turns out men and women of merit. Judaism does not consider same sex ATTRACTION as sinful, only the ACT itself (though the act being sinful is rejected by Reform Judaism, the most numerous branch). And the Jewish Committee on Scout

Man y'all would hate my unit. Won't come to an event on Saturday, have to camp over from Friday. We bring our own food, religious services Saturday morning, can't do Scout's own... Campsite construction stops cold 18 minutes before sundown... Yes my district works with us to include us instead of using our differences to excuse bigotry.

That seems awfully legalistic. If they earned the loop, and earn the Pin as a Webelos, and you're fudging the loop requirements, who really cares? Honestly, if they put the time to working the sport, does it really matter if the Scout "explained the rules" to the Den Leader again when they did it years ago and clearly know the rules enough to play the game? I mean, if someone picked up the pin through all the "book parts" - read a book about a player and report kind of things, alright, so be it... But I would absolutely push earning the Pin. If you want to train them in BSA legalisms, m

Basementdweller, Thanks for the link! I forwarded that and the website overall to my DE, who seems open to trying to shift some resources to Cub Scouts. The Boy Scouts shouldn't NEED facilities, they are supposed to be doing back country camping, right? For the front country Cub Scout campers, where whole families are going, it's overly primitive. Some of my old timer Cub Moms are appalled that since we've be doing more Council/District stuff, it's primitive camping... they like KOAs with hot showers, electricity at camp sites, and a swimming pool. Now, not a single one of those moms w

You're not unique, you're making my point. Scouters don't care about cub scouts. They are the ones sold on Boy Scouts, they put time into cubs so their son will be doing Boy Scouts. The professionals are the same way, cub scouting is an add on program to get boys into Boy Scouts. However, most parents that show up to a join scouting night are bringing their 6 year old son. The program they are sold on is cub scouts. So the ones in charge are all about the troop and maybe the crew. But the work on building scouting is all on the cub scouters to make it work. It's short sighted

Pretty good, but our goals were apparently too low. A handful of people are selling like crazy. We'd never done this one before, and it is pulling teeth to get most of my families to do much. Buy our new families were briefed and are doing what they are told. I was shocked how easy and fun it is. We stick to the $10 to $20 range, and people are generally happy and supportive. Scouts are excited for prizes. Dedicated parents want an awesome program. We got the jump on Girl Scout nuts so that is helping. The gift tins are outrageous unless its an office gift, but the $10 for 8 bags of p

I think it's more cynical than that... National's numbers are down, this would be a one year juicing... which is critical to sell the membership guidelines change as a positive one so they can change it for scouters in the next two years and get corporate money back. In the past year they've been talking about gay people, fat scouts, and zip lines for a program that recruits 6 year olds to wear uniforms and do art projects. National pays ZERO attention to the cub scout program, where 90%+ of Scout Recruiting takes place. Middle/High School scouts hate uniforms, solution, talk about get

Option 1, quasi-merger. What about contacting a nearby Pack (the Cubmaster) about your shutting down the Pack, transferring your Two Wolves and Two Bears to their existing Dens, and you remaining as Webelos leader for just your Webelos Den, with no involvement in Pack leadership. You don't even have to be on their roster if they'd prefer. You'll meet with your Webelos Den as now, focus on them achieving Arrow of Light and Crossing over, and attending monthly Pack Meetings. You can dual register the boys in the new Pack, leaving your existing Pack's charter in place to not upset the church,

Flyer every home? Speak with whoever carves up the regions that you need more space? That seems ridiculously small. Do you have LDS Roundtables? Clearly, you need to speak to leaders in your area how to get yourself a viable size? 4 Cubs and 5 Webelos is simply not a viable program. You can't DO anything. You can have some den meetings and do projects (with the extra challenge of the LDS program, but Wolf/Bear achievements aren't hard to do twice/year. That said, you need to raise the viability of the program so people WANT to be in it. More Pack Activities, in public, with unifor

We're doing great so far... Recruiting up 200% from last year, doubling pack size, another recruiting event coming up. So far mostly via word of mouth and social media. We actually flubbed our normal recruiting channels and had a very uncooperative Jewish calendar. Membership changes may have helped... We're finding groups like the JCC and Conservative synagogues receptive to us for a change. Around the district, no clue, ill know more at October round table. I'm counting the people showing up... Need to get paperwork squared away with everyone.

As a Jewish Scouter, I have no bone to pick in Mormons vs. Protestants vs. Catholics... and selfishly happy that the traditional ire between Protestants and Catholics (and jointly towards Jews) have found other groups to pick on. I wish them luck. I want to go back to making posters to do belt loops and earning Cub Scout Awards, really not interested in talking about gay people. I grasp the LDS "problem" with a gay Scoutmaster, just as GSUSA would never let me be the leader for a GS Troop (I can be a co-leader but need a female leader with me for EVERYTHING). But I'm not entire

Very few of the Scouts (percentage wise) in BSA are eligible for high adventure (which does take money). The majority of "traditional scouting" members are Cub Scouts learning patriotism and doing arts and crafts project. If they provide a system that attracts young families with something of value, and the occaisional regional festival, that's enough. For the few that want more "high adventure," nothing stops them from kicking in $25/person to BSA for the year for insurance and registering as a crew with access to ALL BSA "stuff" without the need for uniforms, badges, and all the other c

The Third Party sites say "year completed," which makes sense, because all the Summertime Stuff includes Den Stuff, and you don't really know your fall Den Numbers because Dens might merge/split in the fall. We used the year completed, because that lets an active Scout earn all 4 pins, and it makes zero sense to have no ability for a Tiger to really earn it and a Webelos be able to earn it twice. Same thing with Outdoor Activity Award... we do stuff all year, then we go to camp, camp is only offered in the summer. You could never earn the Tiger one unless your parents came as your adult par

In our Council, you can dual-register. It's frowned upon, but because of divorce, sometimes its necessary. Regarding the early Bear... Well, if he's been bridged to Bears with BSA, he's a Bear. LDS has a different program, but once he's started on Bear, he can't "go back" and earn Wolf Electives... that's how we handle summer... if a boy needs summer to finish up, you can bridge them in the fall to start on the new rank, but you can't be working on both simultaneously. Once he's a Bear, no reason to demote him to Wolf. Check with your COR if you want to be a stickler... they cou

A few months back at a music festival, at the "youth" area Home Depot was giving away Tool Box kits. I think that they sell them for about $10... My son (Wolf) put it together with minimal help from me in about 20 minutes. I'd allocate 45 minutes if I had a Den, but very doable.

KDD wrote, "I am certainly not trying to be disrespectful of her faith, but I have a hard time understanding this particular situation. " Bullshit. You insulted her religious restriction is absurd, and in your apology dismissed it as " cheaters are going to cheat" What's your point? This isn't about her contemplating an affair, this is about a religious prohibition on her being in a one-on-one situation with a man not her husband. She didn't suggest she was attracted to him, just that LDS prohibits it. Since you're not LDS, the WHY is none of your business. That's what respecting

I'm glad you have Mormon friends. Doesn't change the fact the Mormon bigamy jokes are a bigoted joke... I'm sure you have Jewish friends, but if you made a comment about my Pack excelling at being thrifty, it'd be an off-color joke. That said, her faith based CO prohibits here from being assigned as a co-leader with a single male partner. I don't pretend to understand Mormon law, but both Halacha (Jewish Law) and Sharia (Islamic Law) have similar provisions. I have no idea what Church Canon says on the matter. So between insulting her religion (and the religion of other peoples) and te

The notion of men and women not being alone together is very biblical. The Hebrew word is Yichud, BTW. I would think that the presence of the Den would alleviate that. But in LDS, the Den Leader may not have a child in the den. I would think that the issue could be resolved by meeting in a public space, but it sounds like they are not looking for a solution. I'd join a non-LDS Pack, work with your son to complete his AOL while the adults get their act together. He can rejoin his LDS Pack when they form back up or when he bridges in a few months to the Troop. No need to miss out on a o

Check with the Den Leader, that's you. With the exception of the big stuff like the Den Hike, I don't see any reason that it matters. Also, contact all Packs near you (LDS or "gentile"), explain the situation, and see if he can tag along in their Pack's Den Meetings while this gets squared away.

If they are attending as siblings, i.e. in civilian attire, they should be treated like any other siblings, they can participate at a second table and stay out of the way. If they want to participate as scouts, they should be in uniform, the Den Chief should direct them, and they should help teach the younger Scouts. I think you are 100% on target. They should be paired with younger Scouts (NOT their brother) and helping teach/run it. Start introducing boy led. The Den Leader can slide back into a tracking achievement/supervisory role. Sounds like a great and controlled opportunity t

Stosh, why? I don't consider there to be anything immoral or unethical about an adult 21 years or older going to the bar after a drink. BSA policy is no drinking at BSA events, and no drinking in BSA uniforms because that reflects badly on them and their brand... I can respect and follow that (and its the perception of "drinking" as opposed to a "drink"), especially since one idiot does something drunk and stupid in a BSA uniform and immeasurable damage happens to BSA's brand. However, I'm not sure why I can't go to a bar and have a drink. Perhaps that violates your morals, but not mine.

AKdenldr, thanks so much. Glad to see I'm not crazy with that solution.