BrentAllen

Is the story made up? This isn't the New York Times. I've provided three news stories, from three different sources, one of them Canadian, all documenting the problems with the Canadian system. If you think they are made up and this is all a conspiracy, I hear Hillary calling your name.

Gern, I gave up my investigative reporter job so I could be a SM. You can read more here. http://freep.com/article/20090820/BUSINESS06/908200420/1319/ BTW, I picked up the BA Insulated Air Core tonight. I'll give it a try this weekend.

"We are God's partners in matters of life and death," Obama said, according to Rabbi Jack Moline, quoting from the Rosh Hashanah prayer that says that in the holiday period, it is decided "who shall live and who shall die." 8/19/2009 Interpret for yourselves.

Yes, Gern, we have more freedom than those other countries. "Live Free or Die" More news from Canada: Canadians visit U.S. to get care Deal lets many go to Michigan hospitals "Dany Mercado, a leukemia patient from Kitchener, Ontario, is cancer-free after getting a bone marrow transplant at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. Told by Canadian doctors in 2007 he couldn't have the procedure there, Mercado's family and doctor appealed to Ontario health officials, who agreed to let him have the transplant in Detroit in January 2008. Canada, for example, has waiting times for bariatric procedures to combat obesity that can stretch to more than five years, according to a June report in the Canadian Journal of Surgery." Canadians better hope we don't get a government-run plan, or their back-up plan across the border will cease to exist. They'll have to get in line behind the rest of us.

I'm not sure how close it is, but you might want to look at MOHAB - Montana High Adventure Base. I hope to get there some day. Plenty of info at http://www.boone-crockett.org/educationPrograms/education_mhasp.asp?area=educationPrograms&ID=6080AFEF&se=1&te=1

gwd, I believe the ranking system takes into account soldier deaths. How many does the US have compared to, say, France? Or Switzerland? Or Norway? Ever hear of the Norwegian Army being deployed to any foreign countries? We also have much more crime than countries like Norway. Our inner cities have very high crime and murder rates.

Well, now I have a real dilemma. I gave my Thermarest ProLite to out Interpreter at NT (she needed it worse than I did), so I was about to go out and buy a new one. Now, I need to decide between the BA and the new ProLite Plus. Reading the reviews on REI, the only concern on the BA is in cold weather. Some reviewers think the R value is too high, and they get cold on it. Any comments from users? Comparing the two: BA 20" x 72" x 2.5" mummy brwn/blk 15 21oz R-Value 4.1 $79.95 Thermarest ProLite Plus 72 x 20 x 1.5 inches 24 ounces R-Value 3.8 $99.95(This message has been edited by BrentAllen)

Hey Gern, You sure you want to move to Canada? Thousands of surgeries may be cut in Metro Vancouver due to government underfunding, leaked paper http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=1878506&sponsor Overhauling health-care system tops agenda at annual meeting of Canada's doctors http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jbjzPEY0Y3bvRD335rGu_Z3KXoQw "We all agree that the system is imploding, we all agree that things are more precarious than perhaps Canadians realize," Doing said in an interview with The Canadian Press. His thoughts on the issue are already clear. Ouellet has been saying since his return that "a health-care revolution has passed us by," that it's possible to make wait lists disappear while maintaining universal coverage and "that competition should be welcomed, not feared." In other words, Ouellet believes there could be a role for private health-care delivery within the public system. "(Canadians) have to understand that the system that we have right now - if it keeps on going without change - is not sustainable," said Doig.

As officers of the Troop, I think it is very appropriate to recognize them with an investiture ceremony. We run a shortened version of the one outlined by OGE. The officer comes forward, grasps the Troop flag with his left hand, gives the sign with his right and repeats the oath delivered to him. I don't know about the other officers, but taking that oath in front of the boys and the parents made it both a little more serious and a little more important. When we started the Troop, I asked my SM to attend and administer the oath - a sort of passing of the torch. I would also suggest the COR or the IH could administer the oath. We do keep it pretty short and sweet.

This trip was covered by Scouting magazine a few years back. You can read about it at http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0503/a-hava.html#sbara A local Troop has made a couple of Grand Canyon trips, both the one above, and a rim to rim. We hope to make a similar trip in a couple of years.

The tragedy where a Boy Scout died in the Grand Canyon just came on on the Discovery Channel (4:00 PM Eastern). I think this actually happened in 2005.

Wilderness Grace (Northern Tier) For food, for raiment, For life and opportunity, For sun and rain, For water and portage trails, For friendship and fellowship, We thank thee, O Lord. Amen. Similar to the Philmont Grace, but just enough difference. I really like it.

I can't imagine this actually being true, for several reasons. Number 1 being there aren't that many councils that offer the course. We offer 2 - 3 courses each year, and they all fill up, many times with participants from out of council and out of state. We also offer a SOLO course once or twice a year, but they are more expensive ($150) since they have paid staff. We require students to be 14 and have the recommendation of their Venture Advisor or Scoutmaster. We usually have 5 - 6 instructors helping teach the course, so we can get in a decent size class. Cost is around $95. Certification is good for 3 years. SOLO cert. is good for 2 years. WFA is a great course, which I highly recommend. It really changed the way I think about and prepare for first aid. Basic first aid is just learning the basic skills. WFA takes those skills and teaches how to apply them when you are miles from the trail head, and when you have multiple victims. Subjects include recording & tracking vital signs, prioritizing care, knowing when & how to go for help & what information needs to go with them. We spend a lot of time talking about head, neck and spine injuries. We also cover what to do if you have a fatality. The room gets very quiet during that segment. I can't imagine going into the backwoods with the Troop without this training.

Hey Buffalo, How did your trip go? We are looking at making a similar trip in February. Hope you had a great time, would like to hear about it.

Gern, To anwer your question - how about tradition, esprit de corps, maybe because that is what they are designed for. If they weren't to be worn on uniforms, then just give out a certificate.

Gunny, Just saw your other post - I wonder if working for Toys for Tots would have allowed the Marine to wear his Eagle. He was in dress blues. No sword, however.

Gunny, Upon further investigation, they can't. When I was CM, we always had a Marine visit us for our December Pack meeting, to take receipt of our Toys for Tots collection. On at least one occasion, the Marine was also an Eagle Scout (probably in 2004). We asked the Marine to talk about the significance of the parts of his uniform, and the importance of uniforming. The Eagle Scout Marine was wearing his Eagle medal, and said it was authorized. He said it was the only civilian medal authorized for wear on the Marine uniform. He also mentioned Eagle Scouts can enlist and receive a higher paygrade status (which is true). I had no reason to question it at the time. I just reviewed the USMC uniform regulations http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/mcub/library/MCUR/URTOC.htm#URCH5 and called the awards branch to verify - the answer is no. I guess we had a misinformed Marine.

No, I don't see ego in what I said. I wasn't equating the two. If you don't like that, how about a marksmanship award? Or a Marine wearing his Eagle medal on his dress blues? Egotists?(This message has been edited by BrentAllen)

Interesting. I always looked at our military as heros, especially those wearing the Purple Heart or MOH. I guess you see them as egotists, as well. They certainly don't need to wear those medals to do their job.

Gern, Looking back over this thread, I find it somewhat interesting and amusing that you are worried about how I would judge you if we met at a campfire, looking at your uniform, without any knots or awards. Yet you have already stated how you would judge me - an egotist. I guess I'm supposed to have an open mind, but you're not? For some reason, that just doesn't seem like a reasonable request to me.

Yep, this Georgia boy was born at night, but not last night. I wonder why you said "MY council" instead of "my previous council"? Many of us have our council listed in our profiles - what's the big deal? What do you have to hide, other than the truth?

I guess the "MY COUNCIL'S" and "RECENTLY INDUCTED" should just be ignored? Give me a break. If you don't want it discussed, don't bring it up. And if it isn't YOUR council, why not tell us which one it is? How is that any skin off your nose? I'm beginning to doubt the whole story.

The rules for membership can be found here on page A 1.2: http://www.oa-bsa.org/programs/ttr/ttrsupportpak.pdf BadenP, you said a 19 year old female WAS inducted in your council. "Well I guess my council's lodge interpret the guidelines different cuz they recently inducted a 19 year old female ASM into the Order" Saturday, August 15. So, which council are you in?

Gern, If you came across me at a campfire, I most likely wouldn't be wearing my uniform shirt - I would be in an Activity uniform. To answer your question, I would treat you like any other Scouter. I do look for conversation starters on uniforms. I look for areas of similar interest or background. Without any of that, the conversation just starts a little more basic - "So, how long have you been in Scouting?"

Gern, I guessed I must have misunderstood you when you wrote: "Perhaps this is just regional. In my district, there are ZERO complete uniformed units. At least at camporees (where we intermigle with other units.) We have run across a FEW at summer camp, but easily 90% are as laxed as ours (shirt only)." 7/2/2009 I took that to mean your unit, including you, wore shirts only. Glad to know differently. I still fail to see how I take anything away from the boys by wearing knots or other items. As adult volunteers, we put in tons of hours to make Scouting happen for the boys. In 7 years, I haven't missed a single camping trip, and have only missed 3 or 4 meetings, due to work travel. Total nights camping during that time is 121 nights, including staffing WB or WFA courses. Now, you can say the program is for the boys, and that is true. But if you don't have some pretty dedicated adults, the program isn't going to happen. If after 3 years of service as a CM, wearing a little yellow and blue knot is feeding my ego, then so be it. If anyone thinks I put in those 3 years just to earn a knot, they need to have their head examined. This week alone we had Troop meeting Tues. night, OA meeting Wedn. night, Pack Committee meeting last night, and Troop Annual Planning conference tonight. District training session for online advancement/recharter tomorrow morning. Yep, for the boys, but plenty of backroom meetings just dealing with adults to make it happen. Me, I'll be glad to see the adults wearing a little recognition for all the hard work they put into a program for the boys.