camilam42

I'm coming into the conversation pretty late, I apologize for that, but I do have a couple of views. First, I will offer the following caveat, I've not read through the entire thread, so I may be re-hashing something already settled, if so, I apologize, but...my point of view: The BSA is a uniformed organization. If one is going to participate in the organization, he should do what the organization asks of him. If that means he should be uniformed, then he should be uniformed. If that means that he should not be, then he should not be. However, that is not the case with the BSA.

@ Basementdweller; I completely understand your position. Like I said, I was in it several years ago. I had to make the decision as to what was more important to me, my moral convictions and beliefs or my career. I chose the former. I also am very well aware that not everyone is in that position and I don't begrudge you or anyone for your views, they are your own. But, for me, I couldn't acquiesce. It was there that I made my stand. Was I ostracized for it, yes. Was my evaluation docked for it? No, but that is because there was a letter from an attorney in there. However, I d

Personally, I believe that this is one of the biggest scams in all of business. I was literally threatened with being fired if I didn't give money to the United Way, several years ago. I told my employer that I was unable to give to United Way, due to a moral opposition and that if they terminated me for this I would be bringing a lawsuit for extortion and breach of contract. My earned monies are my earned monies. There was nothing stated in my contract that I was required to give to United Way. I have an uncle who is an attorney and he drafted the letter for me, which was sent to

@qwazse, Considering I am going to be the advisor, the options are pretty well thought out. Like I've said on both threads, I want to get the ball rolling, by bringing in a Catholic bent, but the Scouts will bring the rest and run with it. As for "controversies," they definitely are that and I do have my own views regarding them. I will offer my point of view, if asked, but otherwise I will let them work through the issues themselves. I do have the resources available to research and to help them make informed, more adult decisions. As for the expansion of the group into othe

My thoughts pretty much echo the others. Our plans are to start it, give them the vision and the basics of what the Crew is about, have them take the surveys. Have the leaders, parents and others take the inventories and then we are going to let them develop it. We're not going to run the program, but we are going to give them guidance. That is the important thing, I think.

@ OGE, It is ambitious, but it will ultimately be up to the Crew. I am excited to see how they respond, if we can get it up and running. I think that we can, so I'm pretty excited. You're right, every organization will have issues. Even the Church has issues, but thankfully the issues lie with the men inside the Church and not the Church itself. I think that by and large we can say the same thing about the BSA, for the issues which exist there. I will look to the forums for support and ideas. Happy Scouting.

All, Thank you for your responses. I would like to add a couple of things, which may clear up some things. 1. This Venturing Crew has not been established yet, it is still in the planning stages of creation. 2. While we do have a focus to start with, the ultimate direction would come from the Venturing Crew. If they want to take it in a different direction, then we will explore it. 3. The Catholic Church has a two deep program as well called Virtus. So, in my eyes, a Catholic Venturing Crew is stronger because it has two different two deep programs. This will do noth

@emb021; Thanks for the correction. I am still pretty new to this aspect and I think of it in older terms. I will be more diligent. Thanks for the insight too. I guess that it comes down to the Venturing Crew being pretty specialized, in certain cases. Knowing that there are not "ranks," but rather there is a more graduated way of advancement, is it possible, that a Life Scout could be President and an Eagle could be nothing at all? Or is there deference paid to the ranks, from Boy Scouts? I know that most Eagles are more mature and are more leader oriented, but does that m

@ OGE, That is hilarious! I was thinking more of just having them wear open fronted cassocks, kinda like Neo in the Matrix, but your idea is good too!!!! LOL!!! Seriously, though, thanks. I didn't know if being exclusive was going against the grain, in too big of a way. Obviously, I'm only one voice in the CO, so it wouldn't really be up to me. As for teaching them to chant, I have been chanting for years and years, since I was in my early 20s. I'm 39 now, so I have a pretty good handle on it. What I'd really like to do is promote that they learn to chant in both Latin and

duplicate post...(This message has been edited by camilam42)

Thanks everyone! This is great information!!! As a matter of transparency, what we're looking at doing is this...I am part of my diocese's Catholic Committee on Scouting. We will be the chartered organization. What we'd like to do is get a group of our AAD (Ad Alatare Dei) and PPXII (Pope Pius XII) Scouts together and form a Venture Crew which will focus on serving Mass for the bishop and other bigger functions, as well as singing/chanting and eventually getting them to help with teaching catechism and assisting with review boards for our Catholic emblems. We at the CCS for our dioces

@emb021; Thanks, that does help. I think that as we get going, we want this to be focused on ministry, but we would like to be open to exposing them to more than just a church related experience. While that is the main focus, we'd like to see them grow in other areas as well. Is the built in flexibility able to accommodate something of that nature? In other words, is it possible to have them combine ministry and outdoors, if that is something that interests the group? Thanks for the response. I look forward to more discussion and additional feedback.

Hello All; We are looking at starting a Venturing Crew in my city. We, to my knowledge have never had one, or it has been defunct since the days of Explorers, exclusively. I have a couple of questions which I would appreciate your input on. 1. What are the bare minimums for getting a crew started? 2. How much direction am I supposed to be giving, as opposed to allowing them the freedom to explore and grow this on their own. 3. Is Venturing always geared toward "high-adventure?" 4. Is the structure, administratively, close to a Boy Scout troop? 5. What are the major

Come on Gern, You really think that Obama is not connected? He may be smart, but he is also really connected. Reasoning; in 1983-84 Obama attended several Socialist Scholars Conferences. He then became and activist and worked in NYC and Chicago. After that he enrolled at Harvard and eventually became a member of the Harvard Law Review in 1989. That is a pretty fast rise, don'tcha think? He only worked for Sidley-Austin in Chicago for about a year. Nope, no connections there... I am not saying that Obama isn't smart, he is, but it is naive to think that he didn't use connectio

No Beavah, I don't have any more thoughts on the thread. I have said my piece regarding that. I merely posted saying that I didn't appreciate the anti-Catholic word "Papist." I don't really care how any person uses the term, it is still offensive. I have asked once that you please not use it and I am now asking a second time, as you think that there is some sort of justification for the word. The word is anti-Catholic and it is offensive. Please understand that as in racial slurs, the term "papist" fits in with a bigoted idealogy. It may not have been your intention, but it is w

@clemlaw, What you're asking isn't the same thing. I haven't made a bigoted slur toward another religion. That is what the term "papist" amounts to. My statement, "For Catholics, the Catholic perspective on religion is how we are to form our consciences. Not the other way around, which is how many Protestant communions view it." I was speaking about Catholics specifically. I was not making a statement that can be taken as a slur toward another ecclesial communion. I also was not making a statement that was inconsistent with Catholic teaching, which was clearly defined.

Beavah, As a matter of protocol and a request.... Please do not use the term "Papist." It is a pejorative and it is insulting to Catholics. It is an anti-Catholic slur which was coined during the English Reformation. As a faithful Catholic, I would appreciate it if you did not use it any further. Thank you.

Our CM has inquired to me about the possiblity of attending Wood Badge or sending committee members/leaders. The problem comes in that many of our leaders are not financially able to swing the course. My question is two-fold: 1)are there scholarships/aid available and/or 2)is it unheard of to have the pack/troop pay/CO for the leaders to attend? Thanks in advance!

@ Gern, "Not so much a wiggle, more like a tingle. That Todd is one fortunate man." She is definitely attractive....moreso than say....Hilary, don'tcha think?

@ Beavah, "I don't reckon after a moment of thought that "selflessly" is an adjective I'd use. I don't know what her compensation was for the series, but even with no compensation at all it's a heck of a self-promotion." I don't know about that. I think that if you actually watch the show, she tries to make it about Alaska and how she inserts herself into the life of the State. She is a native and that she is willing to promote a State that most Americans don't know anything about, is pretty self-less. A lot more so than going on Arsenio Hall and playing the Saxaphone. Plus,

@ Gern.... "Her daughter is also a really good dancer." I know that this is to be taken with a grain of salt, but..... If the idea of the show is to be taken seriously and not simply turned into a popularity contest (which is another thread altogether), I agree with you. When Bristol started, she was awful. I mean stinky. But as the show lumbered on, she actually got better and by the end of the show, she WAS the best dancer, based upon where she started. I'm just sayin'. As for the rest of your post, I agree with that too. You said it very concisely, even if the g

I watched it and I liked it. It shows several things, in my opinion. 1. She is a Mom and she cares about her family 2. She cares about her State. She is selflessly promoting Alaska when she really doesn't have to 3. She is a VERY hard worker. I'd like to see any of you get on a fishing boat and do what she was doing, or on a slime line, for that matter 4. She's an outdoorsman. She shares alot of the same passions that we do here, camping, canoeing, family values As for those who simply want to rip her for "quitting" on Alaska, I'd say this....she stepped down for severa

I've gone back and pulled some pictures of when I was a Cub Scout. Our flags were worn over our right pocket above the BSA strip. This was a consistent placement, because one of the pictures was of the winners of the Pinewood Derby and myself, which had me with my trophy. Another picture was of my den a year later. Flag in in the same place. This was 1983-1984. I was a Wolf in 1983 and a Bear in '84. I've also googled 1980s Cub Scout uniform and it seems that this is a consistent placement. Just an FYI....

@ SSScout, I know I said I wouldn't post on this thread again, BUT..... "she," is a "he." I am a gentleman, not a lady. Just an FYI...

I have made my statement. Some may agree, some may not. That is fine. Bottom line, while I believe I have given proof as to why I think that the BSA policy is a just policy, I have always realized that not everyone will agree. However, I hope that it has made anyone who has read this thread to understand that there is a basis for the policy, beyond simply saying, "well, the BSA says so..." There are many reason for and against the policy. The BSA has made and has been consistent in it's position. It has taken courage for the leadership of the organization to hold to this principle