Mrjeff

I realise that the Summits Perry Park is not a highly promoted venue but when I had an oppertunity to visit I was amazed at the opulence located in a scout camp and the learning center that is still under construction is a modern and amazing structure by any standards. Amazing and beautiful projects but I hope in ten years they are not boarded up and filled with cobwebs.

I know what I saw in January at the Summit. Why build such a massive learning center with a dining facility, huge classrooms, lodging, and an auditorium in the basement. I got the usual dumb answer when I asked about the reason for this building and was told by a guy with gold shoulder loops that "we are going to rent it for corporate use". What corporation is going to pay the cost of renting that place for a huge number of employees and then figure out how to get their employees there. There are no local airports so the only way to get there is by car, bus, or fly into the "Presidental Hel

The Boy Scouts of America was a private organization where a member had to file an application and pay a fee to belong. It was a group of individuals with similar ideals, moral conscious, and like beliefs. The members grouped together in agreement to uphold these standards and follow the dictates of the organization. Simply put, they liked to hang out because they enjoyed the same things. This is the same thing as an avid bowler joining a bowling team. Someone on some committee decided that it didn't matter wether or not the rules and policies established for the members were followed bec

Well, after a career in the Marines as an MP, I assure you that I have met some drunken sailors. I can't figure out exactly what's going on. According to the announcement BSA does not own the local councils. So......I guess that means the council charges certain fees to the individual (which have doubled) so they can pay a fee to the BSA so that the individual can use a brand and four campgrounds for which a fee is paid. Building is going strong at the Summit with a massive new learning center including classrooms, a dining facility, lodging, and a 300 seat auditorium. There are a few 5

Hmmmmmm.......... the Summit has a presidential help pad "in case a president wants to visit"; still building huge structures with theater seating, a dining facility and lodging, but the BSA has declared bankruptcy. The announcement specifically denied that the BSA owns the individual councils. Councils pay a required fee for each member and the national beurcraticy dictates what local regions, sections, and councils need to do. But.........BSA does not, in any shape or form, own the local council. This is very interesting to me.

I certenly wish no Ill will on our former BSA CEO, and pray for his complete recovery. I also question the necessity of having such a huge machine devouring tangible resources. A lot of very unpopular decisions were made that has had a negative impact on those individuals who mattered the most, the boys they were supposed to support. As a result many dedicated members, both youth and adult, have elected to leave. As a result the machine has less to do and should be reduced in order to survive the loss of the product demand. Even Baden Powell made the statement that the scouts should never

Yea, but apparently people are still reading it.

Imagine that, when I was talking to the GM he fell back on the problems with the organization. My reply was, "Should the Catholic church be disbanded, or perhaps every church that has had similar problems be disbanded?" He really didn't have a response and it left him speechless. Hmmmmm..........a speechless radio guy...........you dont see that everyday...

I believe that at one time the Boy Scouts was a group of boys and men who worked together to teach and demonstrate all of the points of the scout oath and law. The men showed the boys how to be scouts in the woods, at home and school, at camp, and at church. The Boy Scouts was a private orgination that required a person to fill out an application, pay a fee, and abide by their rules. If you chose not to do these things you chose not to belong. Somehow these things changed and rather then stand on the principles agreed to by the members the rules were changed and many members decided that r

I was recently listening to a Christian radio program and the guest speaker made the comment that he wished the Boy Scouts of America would be disbanded and go away. I took offence to this comment and called the GM of that station to give him my point of view. I also told him that there are plenty of people in the scouts that are still trying to "do the right thing" and provide a positive experience for young people. Unfortunately the GM agreed with the speaker which demonstrates a conservative and accepted attitude that the Boy Scouts no longer provides a wholesome and valuable program.

P.S. I apologize for appearing negative about the OA. I think it is a grand group of young people, and our lodge is administered and run by our Lodge Chief, and his LEC (Lodge Executive Committee). Nothing, and I mean nothing, effecting the lodge gets by without the Chief's blessing. The hardest part of being the Lodge Advisor is making sure this happens without well intentioned adult interference. By this time almost everyone realises that this is the way things are and my common response is "that's a good idea and I'll let the Chief know and he can bring it to the LEC." Again, I foc

I I certenly agree with what you have said. I recently attended the "National OA Webinar" and when one of the national officers said that the members should engage the new members after the ordeal and "WE HAVE A SCRIPT TO USE" I tuned it out. For christmas sake, they actually developed a SCRIPT to use when someone walks up to somebody to say hi!!!! I am a current lodge advisor and the more "National" jambs down my throat or tyres to jamb down my throat, the more resistant I become. They have forbidden the use of regalia for crossover ceremonies because "a Native american was offended". Who

Wow, wow, wow, another price increase. I think it's pretty obvious that the BSA is not doing very well as an orgination managed by a central entity. It would appear that many many negative influences have risen up and the BSA is having a hard time dealing with them. I see that it has become very corporate and has lost focus on why people join scouting and why they stay around. At this time of the year the big focus is on growth and developing new units. Then popcorn season, .......and the cycle continues. I would suggest that the BSA think about an entirely different approach. Restructur

I spoke with my attorney and he told me that this document is too broad and open ended. I am ok with criminal background checks but this appears to be an agreement allowing the BSA and their employees to look into every aspect and area of my private life (my attorney agrees). I plan to make several pen changes, and have that form notarized before turning it in. I also dont like the idea of them sharing information. I'm a retired Marine and law enforcement officer and held a final top secret security clearance so clearly I have nothing to hide. But I dont think that the BSA should have acces

I first attended WB in 1982, SE-293. I then attended WB for 21st Century, and is was very different from the last course. I have also participated in many courses and they were all a little different. I am going to attend the Summit course in Jan 2020 as a participant and I'm sure that it will be quite different from the first 2 courses that I attended. No matter if you took the Explorer Leader course at Schiff or the newest of the new course at the Summit, they all provide an enjoyable and informative training opportunity.

This is certenly a sensitive situation. Perhaps this sh ould be brought to the attention of the Lodge Advisor who could look into the facts surrounding this induction. Then the Lodge Advisor can pass it on to the Lodge Chief who can present it to the LEC and let them decide. That way Scoutmasters, committees, and unit members who have a specific interest will be removed from any decision that is made. I suggest that whenever there is a conflict involving the OA, the Lodge Chief and his LEC be informed and allowed to take what action deemed appropriate.

I certainly apologize for commenting on an old topic, regardless of relevance. Everyone has opinions on this subject: wearing mentor pins, too many square knots, official hat, socks, belt, and is the neckerchief worn under the collar of is the collar turned under. How many wear official socks, and if not are you in uniform? If it's cold outside and you put on a generic wool hat are you suddenly out of uniform therefore preventing you from giving the scout salute at flag raising? What exactly goes on the back of a merit badge sash? Can you wear your hat inside? Can you wear a sheath knife on

I dont think this is exactly correct. I was at the National Law Enforcement Conference in Washington DC when Jim Kaminski made the initial announcement concerning Explorers being removed from traditional units and being placed with Learning for Life and it was far more complex than that. Most of us in attendance were not very supportive of this change and the reasons for this change.

I agree that proper uniforming is important but I do not place it high on the list of priorities. I believe that the reason Venture Scouts can choose their own uniform requirements is a direct coorilation with the fact that many young adults don't like the idea of wearing a uniform. I don't like the idea of wearing a scout shirt with jeans, and I don't like generic ball caps with the uniform bug I would rather see the youth then gripe about his Atlanta Braves ball cap. I think it's silly to have a position patch on both sleeves or to have a row of six service star above the pocket. But if so

Like I clearly stated, I have my own opinion and if its offensive or off-putting to you, I dont care. I made no assumptions about issues like character or values. I did say THAT IF YOU ARE THAT FOCUSED ON THE UNIFORM perhaps you should focus on the person and not his CLOTHES. I would also suggest that I am very aware of proper uniformity after having spent many years in the United States Marine Corps, and as a senior law enforcement. Covers or hats were mandatory regardless of the emergence of a situation, footwear and undergarments were regulated. I grew up in a scouting world where socks an

I dont agree with you. Also, another in service training for those who think that it is their responsiblity to criticize how others wear their uniform. The red jackets are a personal item and can be decorated however the owner desires. So, like I said, my uniform, my money, my choice, so I'll put on it what I want. If you are that stuck on "proper uniforming" I would suggest that you study the rules, look at the pictures in the OFFICIAL publications including BSA catalogs and magazines, look at photos of area, regional, and national volunteers and ask yourself if it really is your business

This is awesome! I guess I'm one of the old farts now. Over the past 40+ years I've received 13 square knots, two Eagle Dad pins, and a partridge in a pear tree. Yes I wear all 13 knots because they outline my scouting adventure that I shared with two daughters and three sons. I proudly display that two of my sons are Eagle Scouts and I will be adding an Eagle Scout grandparent pin as soon as he completes his project. I ain't gotten paid and I bought my own clothes and I really don't give one twitch about what somebody else thinks about how I decorate my clothes. Very very very few wear a co

Where did the "FUN" go in scouting? Uniforms are important. But they are also EXPENSIVE. The BSA does not issue uniforms like the military. They don't provide a clothing allowance to help defray the cost of uniform maintenance like the military. Thay don't have the authority to sanction people for an improper uniform like the military. And, The BSA does not pay its members to join up, like the military. In my opinion the individual scout is more important then their clothes. I'm always glad to see a member weather or not they look like they are a model for the BSA catalog or if they are we

I have 13 and I wear all of them on one shirt. These knots signify my journey as a young scout and then through the years as a scouter. My top three are Eagle, Silver Beaver, and the NESA Scoutmester Award of Merit. As a side note, if we took a picture of my nuclear family of 5 there would be 2-four beaders; 1-three bearer, 2-two beaders; 3-Eagle Scouts; 2-Silver Beavers;2-District Awards of Merit; 1-Sea Badger; 3-Explorer Post Presidents; and a Vigil Honor OA member. We also have one almost Eagle Scout. I'm pretty proud of this Scouting Legacy. P.S. : On all of my other shirts I wear 6 kn

Well, I have a white ghost legend and a 50th anniversary patch. I intend sewing them onto my sash and just haven't gotten around to it yet.