MrBob

Re: swimming, I'll accept a current "buddy tag" from summer camp showing the boy completed the BSA swim test as proof of 1st class requirement 6a (blue) or 2nd class requirement 5b (red), and I'd sign off the rest as appropriate after a discussion with the Scout.

Re: first aid, the 1st requirement is to satisfy your counselor that you have current knowledge of all first aid requirements for T21.  Unless I was the boys First Aid MB counselor, I would not sign off on the first aid requirements until after the Scout demonstrated them to MY satisfaction (or to the satisfaction of the person(s) delegated to sign-off)

Part of that is that I know the guys who run aquatics at the camp we go to, and I know they won't mark a Scout as blue or red unless its legitimate - for safety/liability reasons - and because the testing is done one-on-one.  First Aid is taught as a "group", so I don't have quite as much faith.  I'll accept the signed blue card, because those are the rules.  But there is no rule saying I have to blindly accept the blue card's implied satisfaction of rank requirements.

"extracurricular"?  Scouting is part of the Youth Ministry of the church. 

 

I did not understand that it applied to anyone in the congregation who was not a Scout.  Perhaps it does.

he did mention a few pages back that it applied equally to both boys and girls, and since there are no girls in a boy scout troop, one can conclude that it applies to more than just Boy Scouts.

by "extracurricular", I meant "anything and everything not specifically and exclusively related to Confirmation".   e.g. "extracurricular to Confirmation"

"My CO has a service requirement that members are expected to complete as part of their preparation for Confirmation.   The CO doesn't want boys to be doing any other service projects that might compete with their time and energies until after they have received the Sacrament of Confirmation."

 

As described by David, this unit's ban on participating in (Scout?) service projects until Confirmation is completed is not limited to the Eagle Scout Service Project or to 13-year-olds.  I would be happy if there is a different meaning to be ascribed to the quoted words and ask David to tell us how he understands his troop's policy beyond his posts.  I am in no position to correct David as to his description of his unit's policy, with love or otherwise.  Even the harshest critic in this thread has accepted the honestly and accuracy of David's description, if not the validity of the policy reflected in those words.

His Church doesn't want its parishioners participating in "extracurricular" activities during Confirmation.  

Its not a UNIT ban, and its only tangentially a "CO" ban (tangentially, because this Church would still have that policy, even if it wasn't chartering a BSA unit).

We may not "like" this Church's policy, but lets not mis-characterize the situation.

I've only taken a few theological classes in the Catholic setting, but I don't think there's anything in most parishes that would send some kid to Hell for doing service projects on his own.  After all I do believe most altar boys are about this age and that serving during the service    There is something seriously wrong to assume that people are to suspend their ministry in the world while they take classes on how to do their ministry in the world.

eh.. Churches will do what Churches will do - that's why there's as many flavors of Christianity as there are flavors at Baskin Robbins.

If BSA isn't going to monitor the charter agreements, then it is up to the individual scouts and their families to determine if they are getting the BSA program or not.  It's rather unfortunate in a climate of trustworthy and ethical standards that the customer still needs to adhere to the "buyer beware" mentality.

Well, technically Stosh, even if one of David CO's scouts left and joined a different unit, that boy would still be prohibited (by their Church) from participating in service projects during the time he's a confirmation candidate.  Granted, the new troop's Committee would most likely be completely unaware of that prohibition, and it would be up to that Scout to be Trustworthy on his own.  However, said Scout could also honestly state that he's not interested in confirmation, and do so without fear of reprisal.

Please read the OP.

 

 

For example, does excluding the unchurched miss an opportunity to evangelize those who were excluded?

 

 

Remember the "For every 100 Scouts" sheet that claimed that seven found religion because of joining a Scout unit?

Those who are "unchurched" probably DON'T want to be evangelized at - otherwise they'd be IN a church already, no?

Thank you!  That is exactly my point.

so... in the future, when you use the impersonal pronoun "we", please make sure WE know which "we" you're talking about 

Imagine a 17 year old with all Eagle requirements but Camping MB with a creep total 19 camping nights and his birthday is on Sunday the CO's sabbath restriction suddenly becomes a barrier to advancement ...

 

Duty to God: through his appointees in whom your parents entrusted you, He commands you to not count any service for several months during your 13th or 14th year of life toward advancement.

Duty to Country: this nation needing competent workers, it is your duty to adhere to an academic regimen approved of by your parents. This regimen may require periods where certain extracurricular activities are suspended .., the suspension of which may delay your advancement.

 

Put that against "Hey kid, Michael DeLoVecchio says it's cool. grab your shovel."

 

How the boys feel? Inconvenienced, I suppose. Some may feel demoralized. But, boys come to me constantly feeling that way. I don't go marching into their lives all mother-bear at whatever institution is putting them to task. Plan A has a roadblock? Okay find a plan B! Apply the 8th point of the Scout Law and move forward.

In neither of these cases is anyone violating the "No council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to, or subtract from, advancement requirements" rule.

There's a big difference between (paraphrasing) "our UNIT will not approve an Eagle project unless the scout has been Confirmed" and (paraphrasing) "our CHURCH its prohibits confirmation candidates from participating in certain extra-curricular activities until after Confirmation".  One is a blatant violation of BSA rules, the other is not, even though they both may have identical outcomes.

I very much doubt that TAHAWK accurately represented my position to Mr. Lo Vecchio.

Doesn't really matter what your position is, if it at all runs contrary to the published BSA documentation.

Maybe my parents should have re-evaluated what I was up to????

If it was the same injury, from doing the same thing, both times?  yeah, probably...  

I got the impression from the OP that this was four similar injuries from doing the same thing four years in a row.  

Thanks Qwazse.  This is sons fourth time on crutches in as many years.  Sports, gotta love 'em.

No, you don't "gotta love 'em".  If your son's gotten injured that badly four years in a row, I think he, you and Dad need to re-evaluate what he's up to.

For example last Feb I posted, "The kids will be painting center-pieces for B&G, remember to wear your Pack Ts". This information had been announced at the previous Pack meeting but I I thought a reminder would be helpful. After the meeting, I had a mom (an assistant den leader no less) yell at me for not reminding her some other way. 

Sounds like you found a new "volunteer" to be your Pack's Media & Mass-Communications Specialist.

It's inventing new things to solve problems that didn't exist that are causing the problems today.

Well, Executive-types have to DO SOMETHING to justify their continued existence.  Just maintaining the "status quo" is boring - they need to be REVOLUTIONARY!

 I need some help. I know that many troops prohibit open toe shoes for troop activity and I can understand why. I have been told that this is a national BSA Policy but I can not find any mention of it in the guide to safe scouting. Am I just missing it or is it listed in some other location?  I agree its a good idea but I don't want to look like a fool and site it as BSA Policy and it not be.

If you make it a "Unit Policy", then whether or not its a BSA Policy is irrelevant.

Seriously, guys... what part of "No council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to, or subtract from, advancement requirements. There are limited exceptions relating only to youth members with special needs. For details see section 10, “Advancement for Members With Special Needs.â€" are you not understanding?

"Make the B.S.A. Great Again".

Is the an official BSA policy on boys recruiting boys?  Seems like most of this discussion is about Adults recruiting boys...

Official policy?  Nothing that I'm aware of, aside from the 1st Class rank requirement:

10. Tell someone who is eligible to join Boy Scouts, or an inactive Boy Scout, about your Scouting activities. Invite him to an outing, activity, service project, or meeting. Tell him how to join, or encourage the inactive Boy Scout to become active. Share your efforts with your Scoutmaster or other adult leader. 

Haven't seen anything stating boys can't do #10 more than once.

Same here, are curious what the policy is on a group that mixes adults and youth. Our group is closed.

Make sure your parents sign the "talent release" portion of the A/B/C Health Form, and don't ever use the boys' last names.  Other than that, there's no issue.

$0.14 per mile, 50% "bonus" if you're the bloke haulin' the trailer..   Got sick of chasing after people for receipts.

NYLT is not a listed requirement for Eagle, so I don't see what the issue here is.

I mowed lawns, shoveled sidewalks, raked leaves, ran errands, shopped for others, spaded over gardens long before I was 12.  At 12 I added a morning paper route to the routine (legal work permit). At 12 I also added washing windows for the city library and at 14 I landed a job in the local grocery store every night after school so I could drop the paper route and window washing.

 

I paid for everything I did in scouting with my own money except the initial full uniform for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.

 

in 1968 when I went off to college I had $7,000 in debentures drawing 14% interest.  That would equate to about $47,000 in today's dollar value.

 

My mother taught me how to fill out my own tax return when I was 11 years old. 

 

I guess we just grew up quicker and figured out things faster than kids today.

Times change, laws change.  And there's no time for all those side jobs when you're playing football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, band, orchestra, and trying to squeeze Scouting in somewhere.  Oh, and school.  Can't forget school.

If parents would quit trying to live vicariously through their offspring, maybe said offspring would have more time for menial labor... but not my kid, he's the next Troy Aikman!

$60/year dues, which just barely covers registration, Boys Life, and badges.

We do targetted fundraisers for specific needs on occasion.  Campouts are $25, summer camp is whatever summer camp is depending on where they want to go, paid out-of-pocket.

I'd love to have $480 per Scout per year to play with - we could plan an expedition to Mars with that kind of money - but I nearly got lynched when I moved to raise the dues from $48 to $60 a few years ago.

Click Here for the Modified Snell Knot

You will be taken to a google aggregator.

The rumor is they are instituting a new policy that if you "identify" as an Eagle Scout you will be awarded the rank. That way BSA won't be accused of denying anyone the rank with which they most identify. 

well played!