BSAChaplain

It is so wonderful to hear these stories about Scouters getting fit. KEEP IT UP and KEEP IT OFF! Earlier, I wrote that I had put on 5 with my last week away, well getting back on it, has paid off and it came off pretty quickly. That puts me back over 50 lost. What really helped was that the day after I got back from the trip, someone I had not seen for a while came up and said "You're just wasting away, keep it up." Boy that reminded me how shortsighted I can be both forward and backward. I was thinking about the scale that morning, not the one in January. Those encouraging word

Welcome fellow Arrowman and Eagle. We are glad to have you and look forward to your participation. We may use the buddy system, but remember there are no lifeguards on duty.

One more comment on your inital posting. You wrote, "My son (a recent crossover from Webelos) still wants to get his Eagle, but its in spite of last nite's presentation, certainly not as a result of it." I can still remember sitting at the Eagle Court of Honor of Gerard Leiga in 1977. I was a newly crossed over Scout. I clearly remember thinking, what could a boy do that would have this many adults come and talk about him. A letter from the President, representatives from our congressmen, the Scoutmaster, previous Scoutmasters, all of these people telling us how amazing this was and ho

Sure, if I invited a preacher, sure I'd expect him to preach. But I'm not sure that encompasses it all. Speaking for myself only, I see myself as a pastor first and a preacher only as a part of that role. A pastor is a shepherd, responsible for the long term spiritual care of a person or a group of people. That's as much about lunch time meetings, late night phone calls in tears, hospital visits and weekends at retreats, as is is about monologuing (sp?). (I'm sure most of you know that, but sometimes people forget it.) My assumption, from an informed Scout point of view, would b

Amen - "May it be so"

Well, as a youth pastor, I am sorry to hear that this person did a poor job. Often times adults who are not familiar with Scouting don't know what to say, so they say what they know. I have been called into situations like that outside of Scouting and my own congregation, and it requires real prep work to know your audience. Good ideas across the board. Give clear parameters (topic and time limit) to your speakers. Don't assume the message given wasn't the Eagle's choice (unless you are so bold as to ask) Ask the members of the clergy unfamiliar with Scouting to provide an invoc

Some of us don't touch the coffee, and stick to hot chocolate (or for those of us trying to kepp ourselves more physically fit, Diet Coke). So whatever your camping beverage of choice is, welcome. We'd love to know a little aobut your Scouting life. I checked out your site and tried to look at your profile but couldn't find anything related. So pull up a stump and tell us your story, the campfire burns 24 hours a day here.

Thank you Packsaddle. I take it as a compliment and appreciate it.

Hurray for you. Yes Hunt you can still post here after that. I'd love to hear about your continued success. Julie, Kudos to you and your husband. It's always easier to do something with a partner. Keep at it. The whole reason for asking only obese (and overwieght included) was to keep this thread supportive of one another as people who are walking the path together towards fitness.

So now that I've posted the question, I'll post my own situation. I've been losing weight for the past few months. Mainstays of my diet are crockpot cooking, Subway wraps and Carl's Jr. Charbroiled Chicken Sandwiches (extra lettuce, extra tomato, extra onion - all at no extra charge). I have no good answer for campout food except restraint. I spent the past week between OA Conclave and at a youth church camp and it set me back 5 pounds. I'm shooting to get down to 200 (I don't want to be skinny) and I've got 110 pounds to go (it was 105 last week). I treadmill a few times

Okay, if you aren't obese, this isn't for you, read but please don't post. I'd like this thread to be a place to encourage and celebrate Scouters who are doing something change their weight. Hunt has lost 5 pounds, Seattle Pioneer reported losing 50. Hurray! I'm sure there are more. Please post us with your successes and your failures. Tell us what you're eating, especially when you dine out or camp out. Tell us what you do to exercise and how it helps you, especially as a Scouter. Oh and maybe we can do some uniform exchanging along the way.

I have to agree with Hunt." continue to think that a Scouter who is overweight and/or out of shape (like me) fails to set the best possible example for Scouts IN THAT LIMITED RESPECT. After all, I too am a wonderful person in almost every way, and I don't want to be judged just on my appearance, and Scouting should be grateful to have me as a volunteer, etc., etc., etc. Still IN THE LIMITED RESPECT of fitness, I know that I can set a better example than I am doing." I don't think that Seattle Pioneer's question is an invalid one, not do I think that he means to offend. One of the thi

Well, if I recall correctly I said something profound like, "Hi," at a camporee in '81, to the younger sister of one of my fellow Scouts. It seems to have worked. She served cake to everyone at my Eagle Court of Honor in '83 and we served it to each other at our wedding in '90. But for a cheesy pickup line how about, "I've been Scouting for you" "My tent or yours?" "I think I've just found the 11th essential, it's you"

Well I am Mr. 3X (formerly Mr. 4X). The reason for my change was because I became a role model in the troop. There is no good way to approach this topic. You can't tell the adult to so eat away from the boys, like you can tell a smoker. You can't ban food fom outings. like you can alcohol. You can help us and set an example for the boys by having good healthy, reasonably portioned meals on outings. This is a very difficult topic, the character of our adult volunteers. National sets the baseline by eliminating homosexuals and atheists because they don't show the characteristic

Okay, my turn to weigh in on this one. :-( The troop with which I am registered and to which my son belongs, has a horrible uniform policy. They wear the uniform shirt, neckershief and Scout Hat. Typically, uniform shirts are not tucked in to the gym shorts (of every color) that they are wearing. Most of them have Scout pants, but don't wear them except to a Court of Honor or Board of Reivew. When they wear a jacket or sweatshirt, you can't even tell their Scouts. Between Memorial day and Labor day, the "Class B" uniform (their word not mine so don't jump on me), is worn, ex

Welcome, we are always eager to have Eagles and Arrowmen around our campfire. We look forward to your perspective and input along with your stories and questions.

Another troop in our area makes those same requirements for Star and Life. The indidvidual must plan and carry out a project of their own which meets those hour requirements. This same troop has made a rule that no boys makes Eagle before turning 16. I find both of these completely improper on the part of the Scoutmaster and other troop leadership. I would read the Scoutmaster's approval of the service hours to be there to ensure that the service is planned and of the caliber fitting the boy himself and his rank, but not to prescribe the hours or to rewrite the rewuirements des

Well let me chime in for two more lodges in W4B. I am a former Lodge Chief of Navajo Lodge (Old Baldy Council), and former Chapter Chief, Kinaani Chapter (Sunset Chapter). (Youth) Now live in America's Finest City, San Diego. That means I am a member of Tiwahe Lodge (San Diego-Imperial Council). Wulinaixn Chapter (Black Mountain District). (Adult)

I couldn't agree more OGE, acts of physical and emotional violence should be erradicated from any BSA practice. The only reason that I should be sore after a campout is from the hiking, not the ceremony where I was honored. I wanted to be an OA member so badly, I would have put up with anything. That doesn't make it right. Appropriate and desired physical contact is good; a handshake, a hand on the shoulder. We can maintain the TAP part of the Tap Out, we can maintain the mystery without hazing without hurting. I really like Meamemg's suggestion on using the Scout Sign - I have not se

The troop that I have been a part of for the past year, had never attended a Camporee in the 20 years as a troop. That changed this year. The "old guard" of the troop has been skipping several of the methods, including the patrol method and uniforms. On my first visit to the troop one parent went so far as to mock those troops. (He had no idea of my Scouting background or opinions. Hey he probably doesn't even know there are methods.) Fortunately, a new group has come in that has brought us closer and closer implementing the 8. In my opinion, Camporees will demonstrate how close

Caoming from the era of Tap-outs, I will tell you that our lodge did not divulge the results until our camporee. (This helped to boost camporee attendance) The new Ordeal Candidates were grabbed at the campfire, escorted (roughly) to Chief, pounded out-I mean tapped out, given a token to wear around their neck and put under a night of silence. It was quite an honor, really. I waited three long years to be "tapped out." This past weekend our District Camporee had about 30% of the units represented and only 2 of the units had not told the boys about their election immediately (ours bein

"Is democracy really part of the Scouting philosophy? Does Gods (sic) grace include Buddhists, Muslims, Hare Krishnas for instance. Again I'll refer to the Nepal Scouts as my example. Below I have posted the Promise and Law of the Nepal Scouts. Point 7 "A Scout obeys the orders of his King, parents, Patrol Leaders, Scoutmasters without question," certainly does not promote democracy, but point 4 is more telling. "A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout no matter to what country, class or creed the other may belong." In a country where the class system i

As one from a country who still has separate programs, allow me to respond using the material from the FAQ page of www.bsalegal.org Q. Why cant girls participate in Cub and Boy Scouting? A. The Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs were designed to meet the emotional, psychological, physical and other needs of boys at various stages of their development. Boys in this age range seek out and enjoy group activities with other boys. These programs were developed after careful professional consideration. The Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. and other female youth organizations have developed progra

Wow, sounds like your keeping busy. We'll look forward to hearing aobu the trials and the victories. I'm sure you'll find the forum a helpful resource.

Welcome fellow Eagle. It is great to have someone here who is passionate about Scouts and about the church. Don't try to do everything, it's okay to focus on a few things. Right now your wife, college and the Pack are plenty. You are beign a good Arrowman by serving the program. So pay your dues and wear your lodge flap with pride. We look forward to hearing more from you. By the way, what does your wife do for the church?