BrentAllen

Interesting. So you have to wear the uniform to attend Jambo, but not to your EBOR. And the fall of the Eagle continues...

What made the class even MORE fun was it was taught in the "old" pool (read ancient), where ceiling tiles would fall every now and then. The class was actually called Drownproofing, described as follows: From 1936 to 1987, Tech offered a class called Drownproofing, which was required for graduation. The class was developed by Coach Fred Lanoue for the Naval School which was located at Georgia Tech prior to and during WWII. He taught students how to float in water for extended periods of time with ankles and wrists bound, how (unbound) to swim 50 yards (46 meters) underwater, and other water survival skills. At the time it was considered a prime example of the difficulty of Tech's curriculum, and referred to in jest by students as "Drowning 101". You can read more about it at Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drownproofing and there is even a Drownproofing page - http://www.drownproofing.com/ A Tech alumni gave the class good reviews, at http://gtalumni.org/Publications/techtopics/sum00/firstperson.html The whole key to the method was breathing. Once you learned how to properly exhale and then inhale quickly, the rest wasn't too difficult. It does work.

The other Troop I was a member of had a Scout who was afraid of the water. First day at Summer Camp, we couldn't even get him to walk down to the gate at the water front. Next day, we got him in the gate and one of the lifeguards started "working with him." Soon he was up to his knees, the next day up to his chest, by Friday he was swimming. He didn't pass the swim test only because he couldn't bring himself to jump off the dock, but he had made amazing progress from that first day. I don't what the lifeguard said or did, but he sure knew his stuff. At Georgia Tech, we used to have to pass a swim class in order to graduate that was borderline sadistic. Seems that during WWII, there were many Tech students that joined the Army that couldn't swim, and ended up drowing. The school took action and came up with this crazy course. It involved the different strokes; jumping off the high dive in long pants and l/s shirt, swimming under water for a distance (simulating exiting a burning ship & swimming under burning fuel on surface), inflating shirt & pants; tying your hands behind you and having to drown-proof for 20 minutes, swim length of pool & back, swim side to side under water, swim down and pick up barbell with your teeth from the bottom of the dive well - 13' deep (all with hands tied behind you); do the same thing with your legs tied under you, cross-legged; tie ankles together, hands together, bob up and down for 25 minutes in 8' of water; jump in deep end, do forward roll, then swim to end of olympic-size pool, all while under water - for minimum points. For full points, swim down and back full length while under water; swim down to bottom (6' deep), cup hands over eye brows and exhale air to replace water, creating an air pocket so you can open your eyes and read a word written on the bottom. There was even more to the class that I can't remember. If you passed out under water and had to be revived, you got an A (nobody did in my class). I took it my freshman year, and the class was full of graduationg seniors who had put it off to their last quarter. Those of us who had been in Boy Scouts and earned Swimming MB had a much easier time with the class.

Back in my college days, I was president of the Georgia Tech Scuba Club (Scuba Jackets) and we would run check-out dive classes down to Crystal River. We never saw them in the hundreds, but there were always a dozen or so around. They didn't seem to like the Scuba tanks too much. I never had one swim up to me while I had the tank on, but I did have a couple of younger ones swim right up while snorkling. They always look like they are smiling at you. Cool animals! Sounds like a great trip! Where did you stay?

I don't know about the rest of the country, but in these parts when a long-time Scouter passes away, there will be a large number of Scouters attending the funeral in uniform. If the weather is cool to cold, most will be wearing the red wool jac-shirt. At some funerals, there will be a sea of red where all the Scouters are sitting, which I think is a great sign of respect for the deceased. If you aren't wearing the jac-shirt, you can feel like a fish out of water. For traditional Scouters, this is the only jacket. I have a number of Scouting jackets, both wool, fleece, and nylon. Wood Badge QM's offer a couple of jackets for the courses in our council. We even have a forest green Troop jacket (from a licensed BSA provider, of course), which is a polyurethane-coated nylon exterior with fleece interior. http://www.trimountain.com/pd-529.aspx We have them embroidered with our Troop name, BSA emblem and "Dunwoody, GA" on the left chest. They are a very good bargain, around $36 for youth and $38 for adults. They hold up very well.

Those requirements were not official. The first official announcement said to look for a new web page coming out at the end of the month (January) that would explain the program and list the requirements. That still hasn't happened. I don't see what the big rush is. How many merit badges take 9 months to earn? My guess is a Scout will be able to earn these in 3 - 4 weeks, if he really wants to. It's only the middle of February - patience.

Sorry for the mess, my computer acted like it never loaded the message. Moderators, spill on aisle 4.

Facebook ads for Jeopardy: On Feb. 25, "Jeopardy!" will feature a category all about the BSA. I'll take Boy Scouts for $400, Alex. Tune in to see if you can provide the questions to Scouting-themed answers when "Jeopardy!" features a BSA-themed category on Feb. 25!

2008 OA Handbook The sash is worn at Order of the Arrow functions and special Scouting activities, when members need to be identified as Arrowmen rendering special services. None of our Scouts asked about wearing the OA sash to Scout Sunday. If they had, I would have advised against it, except for our OA Rep. Several Scouts did wear their MB sashes.

BS, I don't have a direct answer, but one thing I am doing is asking anyone who is interested in running for office to check their calendar and make sure they are going to be able to attend all the events during the next 6 months. If they have other activities that have major conflicts with the Troop calendar, they shouldn't run for office. One of our PLs appointed a Scout as his APL, and that Scout has missed most of our campouts since he was appointed. The APL plays basketball, and is going through confirmation at his church - this was not a good 6-month period for him to serve as APL. We have used this as a lesson for the members of the PLC - make sure your APL is going to be able to be there to support you, or stand in for you. Second, I would suggest you ask the Scout why he thinks he will be re-elected (you may have already done this). What successes can he point to that would make others want him to be their leader? Does he have a picture of success for his patrol? What is his goal for his patrol? If he can't answer those questions with solid answers, hopefully he will see he needs to be a follower instead of a leader, at least for the next term of office.

I guess we really are different. Our COR comes by nearly every meeting, and even went caving with us last month. She attends all Troop committee meetings. She offered to pick up some cookie cakes to bring to tonight's meeting, to celebrate the 100th anniversary. The church bought us a new Troop flag when we restarted the Troop, paid several hundred dollars to get the old equipment trailer rolling again, and then gave us $2,000 towards the new equipment trailer we bought last summer. The Sr. Pastor did a great job of recognizing us during Scout Sunday. They are now working with us on a plan to build a nice big Scout Hut. I don't think I could ask for much more.

Eagle732, You may just have to suck it up and pass that one. I can offer you a suggestion that might help keep it from happening again. In our Troop, if a Scout is going to miss a meeting or campout, he is required to let his PL know (a Scout is courteous). If he does miss a meeting without notifying his leader, the PL is required to call him and let him know he was missed, and ask him to please make sure he calls if he will be absent. At Troop formation for meetings, our Scribe records attendance and results of a quick uniform inspection, and gives me the tally sheet. If a Scout misses 4 meetings in a row without notifying his leader, he gets a call from me, the SM (haven't had to do this yet). I would call to find out what is going on with the Scout, why he is missing meetings, why he isn't calling his leader. He could have a very legitimate reason for missing meetings. If he doesn't, he will know by the end of that conversation that he needs to get his act together if he is going to be a member of our Troop. If that went on for another 4 weeks, I would most likely remove him from the charter - send him a letter explaining our action and refunding a pro-rated portion of his national dues. Let me contrast that with a Scout who comes to me and says he is on a team or part of a production that has practices on the same night as our meetings, and that he won't be able to make Scouts for 3 months. I have no problem with that, other than he won't be able to hold a POR during that absence and we wouldn't count the time absent towards a rank requirement. I would wish him well in that effort, and welcome him back when he returns. I think that is fair.

I, too, agree completely with Beavah. I guess I missed the part of the training on how to deliver the program to a Scout you only see once a year. What do they call that - the Absentee Method? I don't think I want to take that training.

I always enjoy the E-Trade baby commercials. "Is that milk-aholic over there?"

Buffalo, Sorry to hear about that. Our church has a very busy schedule as well, and it can be tough fitting everything in. I try not to ask for too much time, usually just to let us stand up and be recognized. This year I did ask that an announcement be put in the church bulletin the week before that we would be celebrating Scout Sunday on the 7th, and that it would be the 100th anniversary. I also asked if we could have the counselor (youth minister, also an Eagle) present the God and Church awards to the 4 boys who earned them. The Sr. Pastor thought that would be a great idea, and everything worked out great! He had us stand up and gave a very glowing report of our success as a Troop. He even worked Scouting into part of his message. Keep working them, it will pay off.

Today is the official birthday, 100 years old and still going strong! I may just wear my uniform to work today in honor of the big day! (working at home today :-) )

I didn't write it, I found it on the national web page. They also have a Calendar of Religious Dates for the year, and show Feb. 13 as Scout Sabbath. You can find the calendar at http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/media/relationships/religiouscalendar/2010.aspx This week is traditionally known as Boy Scout Week. "The program for Boy Scout Week will include a plan whereby every registered Scout in good standing shall be given an opportunity to assemble on the evening of Anniversary Day, that is, February 8th, and promptly at 8:15 recommit himself to the Scout Oath and Law." Part of the By-Laws, included in the 3rd Ed. SM HB (1938)

May God continue to bless this special program. A Psalm for Scouts and Scouters http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/Relationships/ascoutisrevernt/ss18.aspx The Lord God is our Great Scoutmaster who provides all our needs. He lets us camp in forests tall and meadows green. He leads us on trails besides waters deep and still, brooks babbling, streams rushing, and rivers raging. He restores our bodies, minds and souls, even as we observe the eagle soaring to greater heights above. He encourages the Eagle Scout in his upward climb. He teaches Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers to live the Scout Oath and Law. Even though the trails may lead through dark valleys with towering mountains, we are courageous because he leads us onward. He continually blesses us with food for mind and body. Even when our enemies dislike or distrust us, he blesses us with the gifts of love and forgiveness. Surely, his goodness and mercy will sustain us all the days of our lives. And, when we climb the final trail through the awesome pass that leads to the Great Councilfire, we shall join those who traveled the trail before us and joyfully live with him forever!

I wonder how many of the 26 will be around in 2011. Probably most of them - I doubt a Democrat in a competitive district would sign it. This has been argued for years. This post - "Is the tide turning?" http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=1617#id_1647 - started in June, 2001. That last sentence of the original post reads, : "I'm encouraged that we'll get to where we need to be, whether it takes six months or a year." Needless to say, it has been 8 1/2 years since, and still no change. I wouldn't hold your breath.

FScouter, Just curious - who is planning and running these boring meetings your Troop is having? Is it the adults, or the Scouts?(This message has been edited by BrentAllen)

Correct, you are, WAKWIB! You just won 10 million rupees!

Blancmange, I think you are off just a little. Glenn Beck starts grass-roots effort to carry out Benjamin Franklin's idea for the national symbol - the wild turkey. Easy trivia - which president wanted it to be a grizzly bear?

The Dale case was not determined on the issue of whether the BSA is a religious organization. The BSA correctly argued we are a private organization, protected under the 1st Amendment - the right of people to peaceably assemble. It was our right to discriminate that brought up the ACLU cases and the final agreement not to charter to public institutions.

"The Patrol Method is not A way to operate a Boy Scout Troop, it is the ONLY way. Unless the Patrol Method is in operation you really don't have a Boy Scout Troop." Baden-Powell Calico, How does a Scout who is rarely there participate in the Patrol Method? How about the Outdoors, Leadership Development, Personal Growth and the Uniform? How are any of these Methods used to meet the Aims for a Scout we never see? If you have a Life Scout how is meeting this bare definition of active, he is only there to get his Eagle. He is not doing anything to help the Troop, it is all about him. That's not a lesson I want to be teaching. We teach the boys early in their Scouting career that when you earn Eagle, you are not at the end of the trail. A true Eagle Scout will turn around and offer his hand to the next Scout following him up the trail. I'm afraid that barely-active Life Scout will earn Eagle and then disappear, ruining the message we are trying to instill. This whole problem comes from parents who see Scouting only as a program to work for the rank of Eagle. They don't care about the Mission, Aims or Methods - only getting Eagle so their son can put it on his resume. If the parents cared about the Mission, Aims and Methods, they would agree their son needs to be present as a Scout to benefit from the program.

OGE, We may be on the same side - why do you think otherwise? I was telling our Scouts about the movie over the weekend during our camping trip. After thinking about parts of it, I'm guessing the Scout may be wearing his dad's old Scout shirt. It is apparent his dad is no longer alive, so maybe he is wearing his old uniform.