Khaliela

This thread has irritated me since it started, there has been a lot of guessing about why scouts is becoming prissy and I have two points on the matter: 1) MONEY!! Your council and national want dues $; to do that they need to increase membership and retain already enrolled members. That means they are recruiting and keeping kids that don't want squat to do with the outdoors. 2) MANLY??? Seriously???? We are a “prissy†troop according to the local Scouters. Some of our boys even shave their legs, its a great joke while on an outing to see how has smoother legs, them or me

I'm signed in now; still doesn't work.

When I went to Wood Badge they pushed diversity too, but what they called diversity had nothing to do with different religions (or different cultures, or even different colors). They spent two days talking about generations in scouting. When my son and I go fishing that's not diversity even though each of us represent a different generation.

From what I understand, and I'm not in OA, this is only what the rep said: The District doesn't nominate anyone. After the units have had elections and turned in their adult applications, the district committee decides which two applications, of all the adult applications from all the units in the District, will be forwarded to the lodge. Our OA person is also a member of the District Committee, so they choose which applications will be forwarded based on his input.

DWise1: I knew they were violating the rules at the time. I also knew there was nothing I could do about because National won't enforce their own rules and have won every lawsuit ever filed. If it weren't for the fact that my son is interested in becoming career military and has already been working on his pilots license we wouldn't be bothering with Scouts, but the rank of Eagle gets him an automatic rank advancement upon enlisting.

Around here we have troops coming out our ears. Our district has a population of about 97,000 people spread over two counties. The town I live in has a population of 791 people and still manages to support 3 troops. The LDS are pretty much "LDS only," just like the Catholic one is "Catholic only," the third is a "generic protestant,". The Protestant boys meet 1/2 the year at the Lutheran Church and 1/2 the year at the Presbyterian Church. I drive my son to another town for scouts and have joined a Methodist Troop, which insidently is the catch all troop because there are only 2 Methodist

I don't know where to put this, but I thought it was a good idea and worth sharing. While browsing at a bookstore today I came across this: http://www.amazon.com/Grandpa-Tell-Me-Your-Memories/dp/1563830388#reader_1563830388 I flipped through it and found great questions, such as: Tell me the most exciting thing that ever happened while you were sledding? What kinds of things did you and your siblings do that would get you into trouble? I'm getting a copy for my son, so he can ask Grandpa some of these question while on their annual fishing trip.

Scouter 99: You can be a member of BSA if you are an American Citizen or live in the United States. You cam be a member of Scouts Canada if you are a Canadian Citizen or live in Canada. You can not be a Member of Scouts Canada if you are not a Canadian citizen and DO NOT live in Canada.

I think it depends on the Unit. Discussions in the unit: Occasionally. We had one Unitarian lad who was questioning his faith and made plans with some of the other boys to attend Catholic and Methodist services. Occasionally one of the Christian boys will ask what someone is doing when they have gone off to smudge or something similar. When camping on Sundays rather than a "Scouts Own Service" we have all the boys go do a good turn and report back. At Court of Honors or SM Minutes it is understood that whoever is leading the prayer/benediction gets to choose what is said, so sometime

We do a radio spot and ask for donations of old Scout uniforms we we do Scouting for food. You'd be surprised how many bits and pieces of Uniforms turn up in the Scouting for food bags. By doing that we are able to keep a uniform bank in the Scout Closet for boys in need. It also comes in handy in a pinch when a boy has forgotten part of his uniform for an event or troop meeting; we just seend them into the closet for a "loaner" so everyone is properly uniformed for whatever we happen to be doing.

Our Troop invites the Weblos to Fall Camp O'Ree (not many show up because we go out of district) and then to another event later in the Fall. (They did a Wilderness Survival Campout in NOVEMBER one you in the snow, sleet, and freezing rain; i'm surpised any boys joined that year!) In January we have a Welcome Weblo's night during one of our regular troop meetings. The best things a WEBLO's leader can do is to the those boys to see as many troops as possible. Every troop has a differnt flavor. We loose a lot less boys now that we point out other troops for them to visit. When they boy

The letter "officially" said that it was because I would not follow patrol method or adhere to the principles taught at Wood Badge. I put in my course evaluation that I would never force a non-christian Scout to participate in Christian activities just because the rest of his partol was. I also said that having single religion services would not work in our troop because we have boys from multiple religions. The course evaluation was supposed to be annyonmous, but I was confronted with it by my Wood Badge Troop Guide, and because a Scout is Trustworthy admitted that I wrote the evaluation a

June 2012--Inland Northwest Council #611 I wrote two letters to National and never got a reply from either. I contacted Scouts Canada and was told by the personel in Ottawa that they have list of people who have been denied membership in BSA and want to join Scouts Canada, but so far the WOSM won't allow you to join Scouts in another country unless you actually live in that Country. I guess Scouts Canada is working on trying to remove that provision because it would increase their membership if everyone in the USA that BSA kicked out was able to join Scouts Canada.

We presented the Arrow of Light to all the boys with much hoopla; then we did the cross over for the boys moving to Boy Scouts. As long as you seporate the Arrow of Light from the cross-over it works well. When I did it we started in our "usual" room and did the arrow of light; then moved the boys into the fireside room where the OA Boys had the lights out and the fire lit. The boys are told that once they enter the room there is no talking. The whole process usually keeps all the little guys enthrawled.

Somtimes the best thing you can do for yourself and the unit is to leave. It's hard, but you might consider asking the woman who left what pack they joined and go check it out. You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time, and there are some people who you won't be able to please ever.

Why would excess be an ethical issue? If Johnny has extra "scout bucks" from last year why wouldn't it just roll over to this year. And if Johnny has extra several years in a row it sounds like he would be in a good position to pay for Jamboree in the future.

I asked for "Religious Accommodations" when I filled out my Wood Badge application stating that I would need personal time alone for religious observances. (I didn't tell them which religion.) When I arrived I was denied any accommodations. I was told that I would have to participate in all of the Christian services (and wear the hat) and that if I wanted to worship my own way it would have to be AFTER lights out for the evening (about 11 PM). My Patrol noticed something was bothering me and one of them followed me off into the woods one night because patrols could get dinged for not follo

@Moosetracker I have no idea where you came up with the notion that I was "big into older scoutcraft ways." I was told that my my religion was occult, and that I was not following patrol method when I asked to be excused from wearing that stupid hat.

I had a skit where the boys put their old neckerchiefs into a paper bag and I "magically" turned them into the new neckerchief. (I gave the old ones back to the parents when the boys were busy elsewhere because we didn't pay for neckerchiefs, but this would be a handy way for you to collect all of them.)

BSA's "official" definition of God is whatever the person wants it to be at the time. We "sneak" Unitarians, Native American spiritualist, Pagans, and even Muslims into our troop; We may even have atheists, though none have proclaimed to be such . Other troops don't allow these people, neither does our district or council. If who ever is above you in the chain of command doesn't think your definition of "god" or "supreme being" is acceptable you can be kicked out.

"It appears that there is no law that requires a private organization to actually adhere to its own self-appointed rules and regulations. . . . In all court cases, BSA won the overall case on technicalities." Preciously why I didn't bother with a case.

I was "pulled" as you put it and I'm not even an Atheist. I was a scouter for 10 years before my council kicked me out for not being Christian. I given multiple district awards, was a council trainer, camp staff, an ASM and a CM. My unit wanted to keep me, but were told that the council would not renew our charter if I held a leadership position. National won't enforce it's own policy so the only thing that matters is what the people directly above you in the chain of command want.

Our council doesn't even offer patrol cooking; everything is served cafeteria style. I think camp directors should be required to visit other camps; but alas, they are so sure that theirs is best they don't see the need.

We use ISA's and every month the treasurer's report contains information on how much money the boys have in "Scouts Bucks." In my experience not having ISA's causes more trouble than having them. Parents get awfully upset when little Jimmy gets the same amount of money for camp as everyone else even though Jimmy didn't participate in any of the fundraising activities all year. We divide up fundraisers according to whether they are a troop fundraiser or a "Scout Bucks" Fundraiser. Everyone is required to participate in the annual Troop Fundraiser; money from that pays for patches, Cam

Depending on the age of the Scout he may have monthly expenses. My oldest child is expected to pay his car insurance. Both boys are required to pay for their phones. Is the boy tithing or giving any money to charity? That would be another monthly expense. Do they have pets? 4-H is supper great for teaching kids about expenses as they are required to track all of the income and expenses from their projects. How much feed did they buy? Were their any unexpected vet bills? Did you sell any market lambs or Easter bunnies?