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Tolerance is an often debated subject. Rooster & Culver, maybe I should not have used the term "abhor", I was just trying to make a point. I did not mean that I found a religion or religious practice abhorant (reread my post please). What I do not like is people that are not sensitive to others. Would be in good taste to try and celebrate mass at chapel at scout camp and offer all the boys a host (wafer)? Obviously not. Does that mean that I find that religious practice or religion (Catholicism) abhorant? Of course not. Removing one's hat before grace or inside a house of w

You mentioned "switching the cord." Not only would he switch from the Blue & Gold of a Cub Scout den chief and go to a Red, Yellow, Green of a Webelos den chief he can wear a Red ,White & Blue(?) cord (not more than one at a time I believe) if he served as a den chief for one full year.

My wife and I have coordinated the popcorn sales for our Cub Scout pack for three years now and for my older son's Troop last year. My wife is the District Popcorn Chair. For our pack we lay out a few ground rules. I tally up pack expenses (which are paid out of by pack funds) for the previous year and divide by the numbr of boys currently in the pack. This gives a rough estimate of what it costs to run the program per boy. It usually comes out to around $40 to $60 per boy. We give parents the option of selling popcorn or donating money to the pack. Many of the parents have compla

Bob White, you are absolutely correct about the Scoutmaster's involvement in recruiting ASMs. I guess that I'm just a little sensitive because many times I see the SMs using the Committee as a "rubber stamp" so often I think many forget the real purposes of the Committee. The Scoutmaster is the program representative to the Committee (but not a member) and does share the responsibility of recruiting with the Committee for adult leaders. I like to tell the new parents that I see the SM as a CEO, the ASMs as VPs, the Committee as a Board of Directors and the parents as the Stockholders.

I abhor using denominational specific prayer in nondenominational group settings, something our President obviously disagrees with. I feel no need to wear my religious beliefs on my sleeve. Actually, my real preference would not be to have someone lead the troop, patrol, camp, staff, or whatever in grace/prayer but to set a side a brief time to allow each person to pray/reflect on their own. I see no need to vocalize my prayer. God has very good ears.

Hey Rooster, I think we are in agreement here. I said I would not use the BSA as a forum to advance MY views. I happen to believe eating meat is an okay idea. However, I don't take advantage of my position in the BSA to promote that view and respect others who do not. You are on thin ice when you try to mix "character" and "values." It takes character to stick up for ones values, regardless of the value in question. I have a belief in Jesus but I abhor when Scouters invoke Jesus' name during grace because I believe it shows an ignorance to others at best and arrogance and disrespect to o

I'm not aware of any specific distance from the top crease. However, you don't want to start too high so the badges are on the shoulder or so low that the badges start below the front right pocket. A good start would be so that the first badge on far right side of the sash goes just above the Boy Scouts of America strip above the right pocket. See: http://mninter.net/~blkeagle/sash.htm

First, keep referring to the new recruits as "Weblous." As a Webelos den leader, I would steer my boys away from a troop that did not recognize our rank. I would look at a troop that was trying to recruit Webelos Scouts! Please, the above was meant to be satire first and educational second.

If the singular patrol troop wants to call the effective SPL a PL or SPL it does not matter much in function. However, I would prefer to call one boy (boy elected) an SPL and also have him serve as PL if he has at least one year of service and obtained 1st Class rank (not required, just my preference). I definately would want an SPL in the troop. Also, be careful about "recruiting" an ASM. Ideally, ASMs are not recruited by the SM; the troop committee (which does not include SM or ASMs) should draw up a potential list of ASMs and then ask (recruit) the individuals to see if they would

From The Scoutmaster Handbook: Scoutmasters must keep in mind that boys should learn about sex from their parents, guardians, or others empowered by their families to guide them. No Scoutmaster should undertake to teach Scouts, in any formalized manner, about sexual behavior. If a Scout comes to you with questions of a sexual nature, answer them as honestly as you can and, whenever it is appropriate, encourage him to share his concerns with his parents or guardian, spriitual leader, or a medical expert. My interpretation of the above is that if a boy came to me and asked such quest

Rooster & little Billie, if the boy in question asks you questions about his sexuality as the example so states the BSA policy is THAT YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO COUNCIL HIM! They suggest that you recommend and or refer the boy to professionals (regardless if you agree with their advice or not.)

Regardless of what silent people say? That is the problem or blessing of silent people. I don't know what they say.

Unlike this forum, I have invested my time, money, (both directly through dues, FOS, donations and indirectly through United Way, tax dollars, etc.) efforts, sons, etc. to the excellent program that Scouting provides and choose to make it even better when I see faults rather than just walk away. A parallel that I see is when both my parents joined the service during WWII. They did not believe in the segragation of the races that was done by the USN but they chose to defend their country and work within the system for change rather than walk away. And yes, they also volunteered, just l

I don't like the 25 cent fine idea. We had our February campout in Chicago (boys idea, not mine) and when going up in the Sears tower one of the boys refused to wear his field uniform correctly. Most of the adults (leaders and parents) were yelling at him to wear it right. The more they squawked, the more he resisted. I took him aside, in private and tried to explain that his uniform represented BSA and the Scouts to many people, that he was not just wearing it for himself. He kept repeating that it was HIS shirt and he could wear it the way he wanted. After a while, I think he got the m

Thanks for your responses. Your answers are what I expected (wear non-official badges as temporary insignia on the right breast pocket). It is just that the patch is just so small (the same size as the merit badges) that the temporary badge holders that I have (rectangular, round, square) are so much bigger! Just kidding of course. Thanks again.

Not asked (why I feel debate should not be limited) but I will tell you why, I don't agree with it but would like to work within the system to change it. However, it is a low priority with me now. Sexual matters should not be initiated by the adult leaders with the youth (official BSA policy). The legal issue is really if the BSA is a private or public institution. Currently, the legal system supports the view that it is a private organization and thus can dictate membership qualifications that can be in conflict with certain laws that govern public institutions. {If private, wh

Not sure what the hulabaloo was all about between Ed & Bob but; If a scout can become first class within a year of joining Boy Scouts, it shows that he has been involved, went camping, learned basic skills, etc. I don't think that making 1\+{st} Class in the first year in and of itself is such a big deal but if done it usually shows that the scout is progressing nicely, is having fun, attending meetings, etc. If feel that if a boy becomes 1\+{st} Class within a year it is a good indicator that he will remain in scouting for a time (good retention) but not that it was \b{THE} reason

Our council (Clinton Valley) allows adult scouters to earn a "Merit Badge" at the council owned summer camp. Most of the requirements are based on the fact that the scouter should be actively involved, visiting all stations, help out, do a service project, sign up for next year, attend chapel services, etc. When earned, the adult scouter (Scoutmaster or Asst. Scoutmaster) has the opportunity to donate $3.00 to help fund a camp scholarship program to receive his merit badge. I realize that this is one of those "council only" type awards, not official BSA, but my question is where, how or

What I did for my boys (actually my wife came up with the idea) was make a bookmark out of construction paper and I had preprinted on paper the Boy Scout Law, Oath, Outdoor Code, Motto, BSA Symbol, etc. and had the boys cut them out (I made sure they were the appropriate size) and paste them onto the construction paper bookmark and then had them "laminate" the bookmarks with clear contact paper. This served two functions, I told them that when I sign-off their requirements, be sure to put the bookmark in the appropriate spot and they got to see the Law, Oath, etc. again and again. The same c

Great, after I submit my reply, the results show up! A reload/refresh didn't do the trick. I'm guessing the percentage of trained forum users is higher than the general population of BSA leaders.

And the answer is??? Did you ask a rhetorical question or were you really polling the forum posters?

I am lucky, I have two den chiefs for my Webelos den. Both just recently completed den chief training (February) and in June received their Star rank. They are 11 and 12 years old, just completing sixth grade (about two years older than the Cubs). Being a ASM and a Webelos Den leader I have access both Troops, Dens and Packs. With two den chiefs, I was initially going to have each boy come every other week to the den meetings. What I found out is that they like each other's company and would rather come every week and work together! If you can get two boys, this is great! Sometimes they