OldGreyEagle

how about : http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/West/10/31/atheist.scout.ap/ it wasnt a rock, it was Mother Nature, coudl have been a rock but this is what I found "We've asked him to search his heart, to confer with family members, to give this great thought," Brad Farmer, the Scout executive of the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts, told The Sun of Bremerton. "If he says he's an avowed atheist, he does not meet the standards of membership." On membership applications, Boy Scouts and adult leaders must say they recognize some higher power, not necessarily religious. "Mother Nature would be acceptable," Farmer said. " as would Santa Claus and Tooth Fairy one would think (This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

"Emphasis on skill proficiency and retention (through retesting), rather than one-time testing. Very similar to CPR and BSA Lifeguard certification renewal to maintain proficiency, rather than pass-a-class-and-done school-like approach." Where did you ever get the idea that this was part of the BSA? Is not the entire program of a Troop to be reinforcement of scout skills? If people decry the Eagle Scout who can't tie a bowline, is it the BSA that allowed that or the troop that did not have knot tieing as part of its program that is the issue? Anyone who does a pass a class and done approach deserves scouts who know nothing. Who here advocates that?

As I understand the three Aims of scouting, to develop Charactor, Citizenship training and personal fitness there is no nod to what political thought should be favored, only that the scout be a good citizen. Cannot citizens of a country disagree about that needs be done and how, and still live in the same country?

SA, you may have a point, B-P himself said that Boy Scouts was non-military, non-sectarian, non-political and non-class. Then again, you can listen to what he had to say: http://www.thescoutingpages.org.uk/speeches.html Select B-P's message to the Public BTW, he does say that Boy Scouts have a school of charactor and citizenship, wow that school thing... then he does say you cant use ordinary classroom means to give the boys charactor... Who knew, its a combination thing, a continuum as it were,

What constitutes acceptable language is on a sliding scale, some might even call it a continuum (I.E. me). In some situations, the phrase "Jane you ignorant sluggard" may be quick humorous, while in others it is humorless. Back when I joined the Troop I serve, I noticed quite innapropriate language comming from the youth. When I remarked this to the Troop adults, they said they didnt notice. So, they started to notice and did agree there was an issue. It took some time, but we curbed the use of inappropriate terms. My son told me some of the kids still talked that way and I told him it didnt matter, as long as they were aware what words were acceptable and which were not, I was fine with it. You can ask someone to pass the butter, without descrbing it's relationship with its female parent

You have to explain that last comment, it doesnt make sense to me

Before we go down this road, I have to say that the premise that there is a division in the BSA is one I dont suscribe to even though it wa attributed to me

Have been on quite a few EBOR's since I have been a member of the Advancement COmmittee for the Disitrct for 7 years now. Of all two stick out. I scheduled a BOR with the Troop Committee Chair. A few weeks later I get a phone call from the chair asking if I was comming. I said I thought it was next week, no says the Chair it's tonight. The site was close so I throw on my uniform and get over, takes about 15 minutes. I walk in there is laughter and applause, I turn red and apologize and we begin. In the middle of the proceedings I always ask if they had to change one attribute of the scout law, what would it be and then ask as a follow-up what would they replace it with. I think the scout said kind, because he didnt see how a scout could be friendly or courteous or helpful without being kind. Then I asked him what would he replace it with. And without a second hesitation, he says "Punctual". The other members gasp, I turned as crimson as could be, closely followed by the scout. I was shaking, trying not to laugh, I let go, the other adults let go and the scout sits there, now he is the one shaking. So, I looked at him and said "I guess you owed me that". After order was restored we went on. That was 5 years ago, the troop leader and I still laugh when we talk about it. A couple years ago I started asking a new question, "Do you have a MySpace or Facebook page?" and if they answer yes, I ask if I looked on it would I be able to tell if you are a scout? Certainly gives fuel for discussion. One night I had my laptop with me. I have it open as I was trying out a new way to do EBOR, since abandoned. I asked the scout if he had a MySpace page, he said yes and then I asked if I looked on it would I be able to tell he was a scout. The kid turned ashen. All blood gone from his face, I guess he thought I was going to look him up right there. He muttered no, but he would as soon as he got home. For successful EBORs I always have them say the Oath and Law and then congratulate them as the Districts newest Eagle, although I have had to help a few along the way(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

Hey, I edited one of my own posts, OGE (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Wasnt Luke Greek?

Isn't Xzibit the guy who used to host "Pimp my Ride"?

If, and I mean IF, the present package goes through, I dont understand how giving 600 dollars to each tax payer helps long term? For the people who take the money and pay bills, the goods have already been bought. If you use the money to make a single purchase, that compnay's bottom line is better for the day, but then what?

So, 6-8 year old girls can go away to camp most often by themself and boys, 11 years old cant go to camp with guys they know and adults as well. Gold Winger, your up

How old are Brownies?

Gee, and I was going to question whether or not using kosher salt was implying endorsement of one religious beleif system over another

So, if the quote was "after all Catholics assembled the Bible" would that have been better? I understood what the poster meant and perhaps we are just arguing semantics, now before I make an anti-semantical remark I should say, ... well... oh well, carry on For many Centuries there was one Christian Church, the Catholics, and all Christian Churches trace their lineage back to it, something a few peole forget. Leastwise that was what I was taught

Looks like we have a winner here Bob White, PM me and I will give you my address, when if you will send me a self addressed stamped envelope, I will send you your dime I had a group of Venturing youth watch Billy Jack one time. None had ever heard it, but had loved one tin soldier. When the kids at the school started "Rainbow Made of Children", the Girl Scout Camp Counselor cried, "wait thats my favorite camp song, we sing it all the time". So, she said I ruined two songs, One tine Soldier and Rainbow, a twofer

Surprised no one mentioned Birmingham Small Arms Company. As a youth we had an older scout ride on to meetings. Nothing like a motorcycle with a BSA on it

having only one child, and that the esteemed YoungFauxHawkEagle (cringe)I have only heard obliquely about how the Girl Scouts operate camp. As I understand it, Girls Scouts start to go to Camp at an early age and rarely go as a troop. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

In an era where troops search for a way to keep older youth, (I love that expression) why would anyone want to chase away someone who can be a real good role model? Give the JASM something to do, or better yet, have him tell you what he wants to do as JBlake says. You want more people to follow his example

Now the valley cried with anger, "Mount your horses! Draw your sword!" And they killed the mountain-people, So they won their just reward. Now they stood beside the treasure, On the mountain, dark and red. Turned the stone and looked beneath it... "Peace on Earth" was all it said. And a shiny new dime to the first person who can tell us which movie used this song as its theme?

With the Hot Chocolate scenario, after the mess is made, can you gather the group together and point at the mess. Then ask who should clean it up. Hopefully someone will say all of us. Then have all clean it up. While they are cleaning, ask what could be done in the future to avoid such a mess and make the point that being clean and tidy helps with all sorts of clean ups from hot chocolate to National Parks

I agree with Ed Marshall McLuhan said it best "The medium is the message" If you want people to listen, you need to use words that are friendly. Telling someone they are a big fat tub of lard will hardly endear you to a loved one who should shed a few pounds. Rather expressing concern about their health may be a better approach. Telling someone they suck at being a scout leader may not be the best way to get your message across. Now, I use hyperbole to make a point. Of course, this may be harder in practice, or in the "real world" as Beavah would say, and all we can do is try, and I for one promise to be trying

I do not think that word means what you think it does... Inigo Montoya I did not think the words Division and Continuum were synonyms, perhaps I should have said Spectrum To be fair to the readers of this thread who may not have read the post Beavah quotes, here is the summation: "I must say neither is completely right or wrong, although I admit a bias so if it shows through, I am sorry. All units will fall somewhere on the Continuum. Sometimes they may be very Classic while on other topics much more Laissez Faire. The mix of philosophy is dictated by the personality and understanding of the BSA program by the adults. Is one side wrong? Nope, I dont think so although I have my ideas but that is not as issue. On a thread recently I read where a Troop petitioned and received permission from their Council Executive to wear Olive BDUs instead of the uniform pants. Now, the Council Executive does not actually have the power to do this, say the Classic proponents, but the Laissez Faire group says look at the good things the scouts learned and as long as it kept them in Scouting, what does it hurt? I am looking for the division,

This goes back a few years, like late October 2000. I was doing Citizenship in the Nation at a scout meeting. yes, I know but that was before I was much wiser as I am now. I asked the scouts what type of government the United States had I had a chorus of, we live in a democracy. I smiled and said no, we live in a representative republic and explained the difference. Then we went on to the Electoral COllege and I explained how that worked. Remember, this is late October 2000. Then the November election occured. I guess in one of the Middle schools on the day after the presidential election, the 7th grade class had an impromtu Civics class. The teacher started by talking about how the country was a democracy, and was stopped by a student who said that was wrong, that the United States was a representative republic. She asked where did he learn that and he said Boy Scouts, Mr.GreyEagle said that. Then she asked if anyone could explain the Electoral College and the young lad did. He explained it quite well I understand and the class was amazed he learned this in boy scouts as all they did was play with fires and knives, leastwise thats what I was told. When I do Citizenship in the Nation, I stress the FOunding Fathers, how absolutely radical it was to say that the English Monarchy was flawed and that they had a better system. That the founding fathers were truly radical, so radical they wanted to completely throw out all that was known to them in terms of civil organization and start anew. The youth understand about wanting to change things and I try to bring out just how different the founding Fathers ideas were to their contemporary society. The founding fathers were the "young turks" of their time, the punks who had a better idea and made it happen.