BrentAllen

mbrown, Sorry you missed it - turn to page 12 & 13. Gern, you might want to read it as well. "Wear full uniform for all ceremonial and indoor activities, such as troop meetings, courts of honor, and most other indoor functions. The uniform should also be worn during special outdoor occasions, such as Scout shows, flag ceremonies, and special times at summer camp. For outdoor activities, Scouts may wear troop or camp T-shirts with the Scout pants or shorts, or other appropriate attire." No need to trash his official uniform shirt on a high adventure trip - wear a troop T-shirt or the BSA Action shirt.

Our Council puts out a Life To Eagle Guidebook, which includes a section on preparing for the EBOR. It states: Some units help their Eagle candidates prepare for the board of review by holding a practice board of review prior to the actual board. This can be useful in helping you anticipate what it will be like to sit for the board of review and to get advice and feedback on how to conduct yourself during the board. This is entirely optional, but some units have found it to be very helpful to the Eagle candidate. We used to practice for job interviews when coming out of college. I see nothing wrong with it. The point is to get the candidate a little more comfortable with the process, not to somehow coach the boy to cover up for anything missing. Just another step for the candidate to be prepared. Our EBORs are conducted at the district.

Uniforming goes beyond just the parts. Wearing the correct, complete uniform shows respect for the organization. It also is part of leadership. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe every single Position Description Card out of the Troop Leader Training program, from Den Chief to SPL, carries the same requirement: "Wear the Scout uniform correctly." If a Scout can't even do that, do they really deserve the highest rank in the program? Aren't these supposed to be our shining stars, the best of the best? What is your expectation, Beavah?

Get your wife to sit on a BOR. My wife has been very supportive of our Scouting activities, which have taken a lot of time from home, but she hadn't actually gotten involved in the Troop. We had a big group of boys needing BORs, so I asked her if she would help out. She reluctantly agreed. When we got home that night, she couldn't stop talking about it. When she finally ran out of steam, I asked if she would be willing to do it again - absolutely, any time! She really enjoyed hearing what the boys had to say, and I think she finally sees the real purpose of the program, and that we aren't just out camping. Granted, she taught most of these boys when they were in 3rd grade, so it might have meant a little more to her than it would to other moms. I still think it would be worth the effort to ask her to participate and see that side of Scouting. I think it will help her see some of your motivations for devoting so much time to Scouting.

Sorry, Beavah, no $10 for ya cause ya failed. The video you linked is of kids in a church praying FOR Bush, not kids in a public school singing the praises OF Bush.

No, it wouldn't make a difference - I still wouldn't like it. Preaching doesn't belong in the public school classes.

That's really funny, Beavah - "I'm not into drugs, but here, let me give you a hit..." Nothing like promoting what you are supposedly against! And are we now comparing a public elementary school to a religious institution? If that's the case, I guess you won't mind when teachers start preaching to kids in school.

"The Scoutmaster's approval? It's not a consent (as most people think of the word as), it's an acknowledgement that the Scout has met certain requirements - and there is only one requirement a Scout has to meet to gain the Scoutmaster's approval - be registered in the Boy Scouts of America (read the wording of the application where the Scoutmaster signs - what does the signature represent - hint, that the Scoutmaster is certifying that the Scout is registered and therefore eligible to work on the merit badge)." Pure nonsense. If that is all the SM approval means, then all the Scout needs to do is show his membership card to a counselor. There would be no need for SM approval. The Scoutmaster is in charge of advancement for the Troop. To ensure a quality program, his approval is required to start a MB, and he assigns the counselors. If a SM is standing in the way of advancement for no good reason, the CC and COR need to address that problem. The BSA has provided these steps so the SM can be in charge of the advancement program, and make sure it is a quality program.

I wouldn't count it. What community service is the Troop providing, other than promoting the Troop? I don't see that as community service.

Yep, Scouts can work on any MB they want - with the approval of their SM. In case you missed it, I'll paste again, right out of the SM HB. Scouts may work on any merit badge at any time, ASSUMING THEY HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THEIR SCOUTMASTER. Please explain your understanding of the second half of that sentence.

What item(s) do you wish you had taken but did not? ..A plastic ground cover to go INSIDE the tent. We dodged major flooding, but came close a couple of times. ..More para cord. We didn't get much of any with the tarp. Needed more clothes lines. ..Lighters, needed for lighting cook stoves. We were always looking for one, especially a dry one that would work. What item(s) did you take but should have left behind? ..Not much, we really had our gear down to a minimum. I took too much fishing gear (lures, etc) ..We took one Day pack - leave it at home. Everything goes in the Grey Whales. No extra bags or packs. What item(s) suprised you at how much or often it was used? ..Lighters. See above. What item(s) could you not have lived without? ..Switchback pants, nylon Action shirt, wicking Troop t-shirt, poly u/w.. These clothes worked great, dried quickly, were comfortable when wet. Marmot Oracle rain jacket. Canon Powershot A 560 camera in Pelican case, always on my belt loop. If you have to take a camera out of a bag, you are going to miss a lot of photos. XY Bent-shaft paddle, sold at Trading Post. What items did you think about taking, but were glad you left behind? ..Canoe seats (the cordura-type). We were in kevlar with formed seats. Soooo glad we didn't take these. ..Water filters. We just used bleach and PolarPure.

I don't know where Calico gets his info, but it is NOT from the BSA. This process is outlined in several places, and is very easy to follow. The SM IS the gatekeeper, and any SM who is not acting as the gatekeeper IS NOT doing his job. SM HB pg. 127. 1. The Scout obtains from his SM a signed merit badge application AND THE NAME OF A QUALIFIED COUNSELOR for that merit badge. Scouts may work on any merit badge at any time, ASSUMING THEY HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THEIR SCOUTMASTER. One of the SM's jobs is counseling his Scouts on age-appropriate MBs. I would hope that when an 11 year old Scout wants to start work on Personal Management and Environmental Science, his SM would, as gatekeeper, convince him he needs to wait until he is older to do so. Yes, that is closing the gate to that experience, until the boy is older and more mature.

Yeah, I'm sure it was a staffer. That is the excuse Obama has used on every other issue where he has been caught in a li... I mean a "mispoke." I mean, the guy was only from his home state. He's just our Teleprompter-In-Chief (is it racist to use that term?), we can't expect him to actually know the truth about what he is reading... can we?

So, Lisa, no comment about Obama actually telling a whopper of a lie to a Joint Session of Congress and the American people? You are only concerned about the context of how someone calls Obama a liar?? Amazing.

Obama had us all hopping mad at the insurance companies during his speech to Congress last week: "One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadn't reported gallstones that he didn't even know about they delayed his treatment, and he died because of it." Wow. Those evil insurance companies killed this guy because of gallstones. Greedy, insurance executives, just out for money. But, hold on a minute... The Wall Street Journal reports Otto Raddatz did not die because of delays. His insurance policy was reinstated within three weeks and he later received a stem-cell transplant. Raddatz died this year, nearly four years after the initial problems with his insurer. His sister, Peggy Raddatz, told the House Energy and Commerce Oversight Committee on June 16 that her brother received treatment that, "extended his life approximately three years." So... he didn't die because his coverage was cancelled and his treatment delayed. Well, we can't say the prez lied, because, he is the president, and that would be uncivil and probably racist. So, what do you call this? What a shame - our president has decided he can play us for a bunch of fools.

That Obama is one sly fox. He keeps saying his health plan won't cover illegals, but yet he includes them in the number (46 million) of uninsured people who need coverage. So, now we hear he just plans to make those 10 - 12 million illegals "legal" so they can get coverage. Obama: Legalize illegals to get them health care http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/18/obama-ties-immigration-to-health-care-battle/?feat=home_cube_position1&page=2 "Mr. Obama said legalizing illegal immigrants is a way to take the sting out of the entire issue." Great, so now we are back to amnesty. If you want to see the future of health care issues in this country, read this as an example of things to come. Grady says it will pay to fly dialysis patients to their home country http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/grady-says-it-will-138132.html "Grady officials said they plan to close the outpatient dialysis unit because the clinic is old, uses outdated equipment and has lost $2 million to $4 million a year in recent years. The problem is that about 60 of the clinics 90 patients are undocumented immigrants, who cannot collect government aid such as Medicaid and for whom the hospital cannot find another local medical provider." Follow-up article: Grady dialysis patients may not get care in other states http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/grady-dialysis-patients-may-140961.html "The judges action came as a relief to Ignacio Godinez Lopez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, who is a laid-off home remodeler." So, illegals are already getting health care, at taxpayer expense. This whole issue is going to be a huge mess, which turns into a millstone around our country's neck.

Well, sherminator, your tune sure has changed. First you said you were "sure" we would see racism at a protest rally. Then you said it would be "obvious." Now it is an "undercurrent." And all this from some scant reports you were seeing, which I have asked you to cite. Which is it? Slavery and the holocaust have been documented. You haven't documented anything.

Gee, Gern, I just thought I was following your example. You know, counter punch, get dirty. "All too often, the conservative leaners think they can denegrate liberals without response. I'm here to keep that from happening. If they take a swing, especially a cheap shot, they should expect a counter punch." "And I for one am tired of following my mother's advice and be polite and never discuss politics. Not when the right wing has driven the debate into the mud. They want to get dirty? I'll get dirty. It will not go unchallenged." Here's a quarter....

OK, McFly, I guess I will have to use kindergarten words, so you can understand. You asked me a question - "So you're saying it's OK for IBD to print crap if other people do it too?" I answered - nope. That also means "no." No. Nein. Nada. NO. Comprende? I asked you a question - "I'd be interested to hear what you think about the New York Times and CBS, after all the fiction they REPORTED as news." You even acknowledged this was a question, when you said "Well, since you won't bother to answer my questions, why should I bother answering yours?" Instead of answering my question, you asked yours - "So you're saying it's OK for IBD to print crap if other people do it too?" Hence, you answered my question with a question. I think I hear your mom calling you. Time to go home and take your bath.

Kahuna, Sherminator must be getting his news from the same source as Pelosi. You know, all those swastikas and evil people at Town Hall meetings. Hey sherminator, did you see my post with the reporting from Reason mag? He was out looking for what you imagined would be at a conservative protest rally, and he said it simply wasn't there. If you have a source for the racial epithets, please post.

Uh.....McFly....I did answer your question. Here's a little suggestion for you - don't answer a question with a question. And phrasing that way does mean you are trying to put words in someone's mouth, as in "are you saying...?"

ML, Nope, don't put words in my mouth, never said that. I said I was interested in your opinion of the others, given your severe criticism of IBD over one mistake. sherm, I was thinking more along the lines of Jayson Blair, and Dan Rather and the forgery. When speaking of the NYT, there's a long list to choose from.

Yep, IBD made one mistake in one EDITORIAL. I'd be interested to hear what you think about the New York Times and CBS, after all the fiction they REPORTED as news.

I saw a reporter from Reason magazine on the news last night, discussing whether or not the protests against Obama are racist in nature. I thought he made some interesting observations. This is what he said: MATT WELCH, Reason Magazine: Here's how I approach the problem. If this is true, if there's a significant percentage of people who are motivated by, let's say, racial anxiety, not outright racism, in their opposition to Obama, then what else would we see? How would we expect that to manifest itself? I would expect it to manifest itself at minimum with people expressing, whether it's in their signage or in their conversation, concerns about hot-button racial issues: affirmative action, immigration, welfare queens, and whatnot. What I saw going out in the crowd and actually talking to people was almost none of that. We saw a lot of different signs out there, but the vast majority of people that I talked to and the displays that they were making was actually pretty coherent. They were against government overreach and spending in their lives and in the economy. And I saw a precious little -- and I even tried to tease people out, like, "Ah, what do you think about that Obama character? Is he legitimate? Is he not?" A lot of people said, "Hey, I like the guy. I disagree with his policies." So I have a hard time going to the next step and assuming that their motivation is something that is somehow sublimated that I can't measure. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec09/rage_09-16.html

skeptic, It is an Investors Business Daily poll, which found "45 percent of physicians questioned would consider shutting down their practices or retiring early if Congress approves the type of overhaul that the Democratic majority and the administration have in mind." Interestingly, the poll also showed that "65 percent of doctors do not support the plan. That contradicts not only the White House, but the American Medical Association." Finally, doctors must be pretty good at math: "Also, 71 percent of doctors surveyed say they do not believe the government can cover 47 million more people at a lower cost while providing better health care."