acco40

I don't know about allowing a Scout to earn Eagle before puberty. He may not turn out to be a "desirable role model" for other Scouts. Seriously, the only age restrictions that should be enforced are the "under 18" rules.(This message has been edited by acco40)

We don't have Yearly Outings because with that frequency, we may lose too many BSA members. Seriously, when I was a Scoutmaster I usually scheduled our annual planning meeting in late July or early August time frame. Scoutmaster's tasks: Homework (evaluate the past year, gather important dates, define troop priorities, etc.), get patrol input, hold a program planning meeting, consult/inform troop committee and CO, distribute plan to troop. Now, the SPL should work with the PLC take the "homework" that was done by the Scoutmaster to get Patrol input (have scribes take good no

Of course, what everyone must realize is that everyone should genuflect before the moderators and enjoy the majestic wash of "truth" that flows down upon them from their posts. :-) Yeah, as a moderator we can get bored with the same recycled threads (patrol formation, committee chair/scoutmaster dichotomy, irate parent when a Scout leader persists in interfacing with the Scout instead of them, anti-OA discussions, ...) so sometimes we enjoy the fireworks in the Issues & Politics threads.

Well, I'm just thankful that the BSA didn't allow that horribly bad role model Condoleezza Rice into our organization. Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, Stanford Professor and Provost, National Security Council member, Phi Beta Kappa member, Notre Dame grad (cum laude), accomplished pianist, etc. but possibly gay so we can't take any chances!

Papadaddy - I have the legal right to wear my underwear on my head, that doesn't make it right. No one is arguing that Augusta or the BSA do not have the legal right to set there own membership qualifications. What I feel is worthy of discussion is how does one react to such an institution? Augusta admitted if first black member in 1990 - after some businesses pulled advertising dollars from another "white only" golf club hosted the PGA championship. So, what type of decision does Tiger Woods have to play there? I for one, don't think that by playing in the Masters in 1995 he w

So ignorance of the law is an excuse!

Six month terms, as opposed to a full year allow the boys on the football team, basketball team or baseball team to play their primary sport one part of the year and concentrate on Scouts the other half of the year. I've had Scouts participate in Scouting all year but during the football season decline seeking a POR due to time constraints. The vast majority of leadership positions are should not elected but appointed by the Scoutmaster/SPL. Nothing the BSA publishes requires "term limits" except for the age factor.

Should a Commissioner be a Scoutmaster? No. Can a Commissioner be a Scoutmaster? Yes. Again, as stated previously, being a commissioner should be one's primary position. However, I've know quite a few Commissioner's who have done both. Heck, I was a unit commissioner, Scoutmaster and Webelos Den Leader all at the same time for about six months. I was recruited to be a unit commissioner by the district and I told them I would but that I would put the most emphasis on my Scoutmaster position. Now, I wouldn't dream of being the unit commissioner for a unit that I was a member never mi

Okay it was me. I know some will thank me and other will curse me for what I've done. Going through the "water is still wet" thread I saw skeptics repeated posts and requests to delete them. Well, that was my intention and I accidentally deleted the thread instead. That was not my intention. Terry, if you can resurrect that thread, please do so.

Flesh-bags of chemical reactions don't care about other flesh-bags full of chemical reactions. I tend to disagree. So do you feel that non-religious folks can't experience sympathy, empathy, guilt, etc.?

I'm with Eamonn here. As a fellow moderator I tread very lightly in the Issues & Politics threads. It is kind of a "buyer beware" area. Also, since my time on the forum goes in spurts - I'll be active for a few days then be absent for weeks or more - I don't continually monitor the posts. That said, don't ever hesitate to "Send Private Message" to me if you feel a post goes out of bounds or for that matter "Ignore this user" if you feel my posts do the same. Welcome and in this case, lurking still falls under the Scout Oath and Law.

Ed, think of it this way, is not believing in the Great Pumpkin a belief system? Most would agree that not believing in the Great Pumpkin is a belief but it doesn't really have much "meat" to constitute any sort of "system." Now, a believer in the Great Pumpkin may also believe that on Halloween night, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch he deems most "sincere," and flies through the air delivering toys to all the good little children in the world. Also that the Great Pumpkin is very sensitive and easily offended and will bypass anyone who denies or doubts his existence.

Obama called the BSA policy discrimination (it is) and that he opposes this policy that discriminates on basis of sexual orientation. He also stated that the Boy Scouts is a valuable organization that has helped educate and build character in American boys for more than a century. Romney has stated in the past that all people should be able to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual orientation. Now, I now he said that during a debate with Kennedy quite a few years ago, not sure what his most recent statements have been. Neither has stated that private organizati

BSA24, I don't think anyone is arguing that being fat can't be helped. However, what many believe, including myself, is that the cause of obesity is more complex than some believe. For example, science has shown that intestinal bacteria in obese humans differ from those in lean individuals and it is postulated that these bacteria are involved in how body weight is regulated and in how the food we eat is absorbed. For example, if you have inefficient bacteria that do not do a good a job of breaking down the food that you eat, more simply passes through and less is absorbed. For someone

Hal - a very accurate synopsis in my view. Later on, after having gained valuable experience as president, he became a great statesmen.

Yes, I know this thread was not really about fat folks but ... My father used to think folks with acne we just those with poor hygiene. I know very intelligent folks who thought the reason certain folks got good grades was just because they put forth more effort. My best friend in college, a great athlete, thought that everyone had the same athletic capability - some just put forth more effort. And yes, many think that obese individuals just choose to be fat. Exercise, studying, cleanliness, effort, etc. can help with weight, grades, acne, athletic prowess, etc. not everyone is cr

Yes, I was waiting for the punch line. You may also thank former President Carter for allowing U.S. citizens to be able to brew brew beer at home. Well, in retrospect, maybe we should have thanked Billy.

I'm not quite old enough to remember listening to radio shows unless they centered around music or comedy (Meryln - got any Firesign Theatre trivia?) I did spend a couple of years of my youth living in Kansas, Colorado and Arizona. So Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Paladin, Bat Masterson, Bonanza, Wagon Train, Have Gun will Travel, etc. were staples in my house. I still watch The Rifleman on cable and love that show. All those shows were kind of like a Scoutmasters "30 minutes." Anyone remember Branded, a post Rifleman show starring Chuck Connors.? (Bit of trivia - Connors was a Los Angele

Chick-fil-A Vice President of Public Relations Donald Perry died today, reportedly of a heart attack. He was the media point person after the fast-food chain's president reiterated the company's biblically based values and opposition to same-sex marriage. Seriously, and in fairness, Perry stated that Cick-fil-A desires to not proactively being engaged in the dialogue on gay marriage. So, just as I don't speak for the company that employs me (albeit I'm not the CEO), Cathy was not speaking for Chick-fil-A but as an individual.

According to the OA, a candidate must have Scoutmasters certification as to: o His Scouting Spirit o Adherence to the Scout Oath and Law o Participation in troop activities Yeah, and the camping & rank requirements. Remember, the election is to provide OA candidates, not members. My earlier point was that for 1st Class - the Scoutmaster signs off on Scout Spirit, adherence to the Oath and Law (req 12) and participation in troop activities (req 3 &4). So, again, how could one sign off on 1st Class and not for the OA election if the nights of camping reqs are met?

Go ask a five year old. These people are allowed to do this. These people are not. Is that fair? So, anti-gay marriage is not anti-gay? That must be something that is being spread by talk radio heads somewhere. Mr. Boyce - so, women past child bearing age should not be allowed to be married? Neither should infertile men or women? Yes, marriage is a social structure and thus, by definition society should define what the accepted structure is about. We have age limits, "who" limits (I can't marry my mom for instance) and in most states gender limits. I don't think I should be a

Bando - you acted "uppity" by not knowing your place and daring to rock the boat! Seriously, this reminds me of my senior year in high school. I graduated in early June of 1974 (he resigned in mid-August that year) and it seemed that the seniors (I feel 18 year old were much more politically active back then than they are now due to civil rights, draft/Viet Nam, generational differences, etc.) were split and quite vocal in defense or disgust with former president Nixon. Was discussing such an issue appropriate for a graduation ceremony? Again, many were split on the issue. My take was

Which is what? Yes they are troop events. Read BSA publication 33588 and it will state that the Eagle Scout and his parents should be involved in planning the event.

I don't fly any flags at my residence. However, when dealing with a flag, I try to do so from an educated and respectful position. If folks want to fly a flag, why don't they want to do it correctly? Sort of like scouting, if you make the effort and commitment to join, why not follow the rules & guidelines? By the way folks, the U.S. Flag Code is a federal law. Because there are no legal penalties does not mean one may ignore the law. A key bit of trivia - Scouts and Scouters do not wear a flag on our uniform (that is prohibited by the U.S Flag Code). We wear a flag pat

One of the things they do, that I applaud, is to send the girls to summer camp without helicoptering mothers and fathers. My daughter went off to summer camp - staffed primarily by college aged girls/women who were trained staffers. The girls of that age (9/10) adjusted better than most of the 10/11 year old boys going away for their first summer camp without mommy or daddy. I don't get this animosity against the GSA.(This message has been edited by acco40)