acco40

Pop Tarts Nutritional Content (per serving) 210 calories, 50 from fat 10% of RDA of Iron, B6, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin & Folic Acid I've seen worse. We sometimes institute a "cook" rule and need to define cooking as the combination of at least two ingredients (not including water) and the application of heat.

We tended to discourage and limit use for such items as personal electronic devices - much like a public school. Can the Scout bring an iPod on a camping trip. Yes, but as Scoutmaster, I didn't want to see him with ear buds in his head 24/7 and constantly distracted, worried about theft, etc. So, if he wanted to discretely bring an iPod, listen to it in his tent - I had no issue. The only thing we outright banned were certain food items, mostly for cost. The boys didn't bear the brunt of the cost for grubmaster items. So, when one grubmaster started bringing individual Sobe bottles for drinks - at about a $1.50/bottle cost, I said enough! The individual patrols didn't pay for the food, the troop as a whole did. That lead to a "no juice boxes, soda pop cans, etc." ban. There was no "learning" experience to the Scout when mom and dad just coughed up the dough.

The American people have for years and years avoided a single party government - tending to elect an executive (president) and legislative (congress) leaders of opposing parties. Yes, Congress pulls the budget handles but the President isn't exactly powerless to influence what Congress comes up with. So, to simply state that a President has no say except either sign or veto is false. Then there are some President, like Eisenhower who were not really a true Democrat or Republican. Kennedy, Clinton & Johnson were the leaders for the most recent top "GDP annualized growth" occured. Johnson, Carter and Clinton were the leaders during the largest annualized growth in total jobs (both Bushes bring up the rear). Nixon & Dubya were leaders fo the only decline of S&P with Clinton being in office for the greatest gain.(This message has been edited by acco40)

Yes, 2002 was the year I first participated in this forum. Yarrow, Rooster7, Bob White, tjhammer - I bet I can still read posts they have made and pick out who made them without any "author" listings quite easily. Also, we seem to be debating the same issues. The military has made some changes. Is the BSA next?

scoutmaster child porn 2010- 9,000 results mormon child porn 2010 - 106,000 priest child porn 2010- 235,000 teacher child porn 2010 -702,000 Based on this research- Scoutmasters are less likey to be involved in child porn Incorrect, based on that "research" child involved with porn are less likely to be involved with Scoutmaster's than with teachers. Is the Scoutmaster to teacher ration less than or greater than 9,000 to 702,000? Don't know the answer myself but take my two boys and they've had a total of one Scoutmaster and about 150 teachers - a ratio of almost twice as great as 78 to 1. So the propensity a Scoutmaster being involved is actually higher.

Sad, all around.

Simply having the best of the best together isnt enough to guarantee an outstanding patrol. Miami Heat, need I say more? Maturity helps with patrol/teamwork. Sometimes maturity comes with age, sometimes not. I'm not a fan of mixed aged patrol if they are not truly peers. A 12 year old doesn't really have much in common with a 17 yr old boy. If they do, one is usually a little "unusual." When faced with a challenge - i.e. challengine backpacking such as Philmont, Double H, etc. groups either thrive or dive. When a volunteer event - they thrive. When "forced" upon all, they dive.

A Patrol of peers that wants to stay together, camp together and generally have fun in Scouts together.

"Outsiders" have stated that Dearborn, MI utilizes Sharia law as the law of the land but that is patently false. I believe the area I live in has the #2 highest concentration of Arab-Americans (next to Los Angeles). My neighbors are Iraqis (Christian/Caldean). But yes, when the Secretary of State's office (our version of the Department of Motor Vehicles) requires females to remove head scarves for their driver's license photo, I think that Sharia Law is a relevant piece of evidence. I'm not saying it "trumps" the formal law, only that is a part of the whole story.

Read the post closely, only the writers who have served their nation.

I agree. That's why in America, if a Christian is a conscientious objector, they can't use that as a reason not to be excluded from military service. Oh wait, yes they can. Now I'm confused. :0)

Don't get me wrong, I don't think religion should be a major player in the court's decision but it should not be excluded - i.e. in admissable. I'm more a believer in the British legal system that, to my understanding, does not throw out evidence. Say the police illegally obtained evidence by breaking into your home. If I ruled the world, that evidence would be admissable in court but I would also prosecute the police that broke the law too. Justice should be blind in the way it administers to all in an equal fashion, but not blind as to evidence brought to bare in a case. For example, if I've taken a vow of poverty, due to my religious beliefs and I get divorced, I think that fact should be weighed by any court decision trying to decide alimony, child support, etc. I'm not saying I should not have to pay anything, but the evidence is evidence. Just like the fact that if I was a multi-milllionaire, that evidence should be part of the equation. (This message has been edited by acco40)

An Amish woman was in a car accident. Amish are not allowed to drive but are allowed to be given a ride by the English. A truck driver, talking on his phone (or was he texting?) plowed into a line of cars at 65 mph killing a few, maiming a few, hospitalizing a few, etc. The Amish woman, who does not posess any insurance, did not sue (not part of their religion to gain from another's mistakes) but many other parties (English folk) did. The truck driving company carried $1,000,000 in liability (standard) which was easily gobbled up by the other lawsuits. The company did pay some of the Amish woman's medical bills but not all. Now the woman has a large amount she still owes. If she is sued, should the American justice system take her religious views into account? IMO, yes. Not necessarily as the major deciding factor but that fact should not be totally excluded or inadmissable either. Same for Sharia.(This message has been edited by acco40)

I don't think it would be a good idea for a Pack to go winter camping (I live in Michigan). However, for a Troop, I think it is fine. There is a mental barrier (mostly for their parents) that has to be overcome and we have to train the boys well but heck, their circulation is 50% better than mine so if I can survive, they have no problem.

A Scoutmaster trains boys to be leaders, makes available to them the resources and guidance they need to lead well, and then steps into the background to let them do their jobs. Nice job description, although I don't like the term "jobs", plus Kudu may rant on about their need to "lead." Kudu version: A Scoutmaster trains boys to be skilled in Scoutcraft, makes available to them the resources and guidance they need to learn Scoutcraft, and then steps into the background to let them camp a minimum of 300 ft away from him and other patrols. Seriously, the hard part is that the training is a process and after one week a Patrol Leader may not have the necessary skills perfected - but there is an outing that week. So what is a Scoutmaster to do? However, I do think the number one failure of most Scoutmasters, and to a greater extent committee members, SAs and other adults, it that they don't understand that the Scouting environment is the perfect venue to allow the boys to fail, so let them! It is a great learning experience. Now before I get a slew of angry responses, keep this in context. Let them burn the toast. Let them experience a few bugs if they don't zip up the tent completely. Let a racoon rifle through the garbage if they don't secure it before they retire for the night. Heck, I've done those things and I didn't need some "Scoutmaster Emeritus" telling me what to do. We have to balance making the experience fun, educational and adventurous with being a learning experience too. We should not equivocate on basic safety and health but each parent views health and safety through a different lens. Once the troop went summer camping on the shores of Lake Huron for a weekend. My oldest son, around 15 at the time, went swimming and spent all day in the sun. I reminded all the Scouts about sun protection and most applied sun screen, including my son. I also reminded them to reapply after swimming - some did, but not my son. End result, he got a burn that made him uncomfortable but nothing severe (in my eyes). Now, some felt I was not stepping back enough. Why did you need to tell them about sun screen? Couldn't a Scout do that? Don't do anything for them that they could do themselves! Others thought I was negligent. You just sat there and let them get burned? My wife (who did not attend) gave me an earful! I told you not to let the boys get sun burned and you went ahead and let them! Don't you care about your son? I thought to myself that if half the parents thought I was doing too much and half too little (never do they agree with how I conduct my self on outing!) I must be doing something right! FWIW, I miss Bob White even though he did have a few dust ups with a few posters. BW, do you ever peruse these forums anymore?(This message has been edited by acco40)

Our Council has an official (Council are given permission by the national council to do this) Polar Bear award. For our council, the temperature has to remain below 32 degrees, you need to reamin outside all the time (except for a bathroom or worship service) and one has to cook their meals. We did that once - but did not earn the award because we did not meet another requirement. The outing has to occur in Winter. We easily met all the other requirements but because we did this in mid-December - no soup for us! I felt bad for the boys, it was something I overlooked.

It's very simple. Patrol outings, as defined by the BSA require a Scoutmaster's approval but do not require adult attendance. However, any outing, should utilize a tour permit. That's just common sense. A tour permit needs to be filed by an adult (not just any adult too.). No issue. I've gone on outings and the tour permit has been filed by a member of the committee that is not going on the outing, no problem. Also, keep in mind that many possible outing locations require an adult (not a BSA rule but a legal rule) such as state and national parks, private campgrounds, etc. Contracts - are not binding for minors. Now since the BSA does not regulate our lives 100% of the time, can the boys in a patrol decided to go sleep in the park without their Scoutmaster's approval? Of course they can. But it would not be a patrol outing in the eyes of the BSA. (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Sharia law overlaps our secular laws on such topics as crime (eye for an eye), politics (electoral procedures) and economics (charging of interest), as well as personal matters sex, hygiene, diet, and prayer. Muslim minorities have introduced Sharia family law, for use in their own disputes, with varying degrees of success. Now, does that mean that it should be entertained or endorsed (two different concepts) by our legal system? I think that if a case involves a Muslim individual, yes, the judge/jury should take that into account but by no means base the decision solely on that fact. (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

So, boys who are Scouts can certainly get together and go off and do their own thing -- they likely do anyways. Unless a Scoutmaster or other appropriate adult is involved in the planning and there is two-deep leadership, etc., it will not be an official Scout activity. FALSE A patrol with the SM's and parents' approval can go on an overnite campout without adults. And it would be an official BSA event. TRUE

My oldest expressed some interest in being a Tiger. What's this new thing, a Tiger Cub?, I ask my sister. She explains, I wait until Wolf for son #1. Son number two sees his older brother and so two years later he is a Tiger and my wife signs me up to be a den leader when he is Wolf (no Tiger den leaders then). Fast forward a few years, the boys want to join Boy Scouts and the oldest was very active, earned Eagle and stayed involved past 18. Younger son waivers some, earned Eagle and kind of dropped out at 16. Both are now registered Scouters because teh BSA gives them a paycheck (something I never got!). Both work during the summer and intermittedly during the year as dining hall staff. Basementdweller - I was becoming your father (a boomer, too much time at work, etc.) so I thought a good way to guarantee I spend more time with my sons was to become their den leader, Scoutmaster, etc. Yes, there are drawback to that too but the good out weighed the bad IMO. To this day we (54, 20 & 18 years of age) talk about the times we had (and possibly will still have) in Scouting.

The outdoors - camping, traditional scout skills, etc. is really a recruiting tool. It is not the reason most parents have their sons join scouting. Kudu - what is you opinion on teaching today's boys on how to use a GPS? That was a great tool when we went to Double H in New Mexico. I stood out of the way, each boy was the "lead" for one full day (six day hike) and the boys had to deal with the peer pressure of the other 5 scouts. If he led them down the proverbial wrong path (we had no trails nor paths to follow) he got an earful. I don't give a hoot that there were not GPS devices in 1916. As an adult, I also don't give a hoot about the fact that the boys improved their orienteering skills, how to read a topographical map and a GPS device. What I did care about was that the experience taught them about teamwork, leadership, responsibility with the added benefit that they had fun. Were you laid off by one of your hated "corporations" or something? I really don't understand your position. Of course, if we make the scouting experience a purely classroom environment - we will loose the boys to boredom. But, I've also lost potential Scouts because they couldn't stand the bugs, "non-mom" meals, etc. They were the rare ones who the "adventure of Scouting" didn't sit well with them (at the ages of 10-12). The BSA can't be everything to everyone but it does need to change with the times. I don't interpret the Congressional charter the same way you do. The emphasis is to promote the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others (be prepared and service), teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues using the methods in common use by boy scouts on June 15, 1916. To me, the methods in use were how (not what) the boys were taught - living up to a standard code (Scout Law and Oath), requiriing the boys to pass certain skill/physical tests and awarding him with recognition/medals/patches, etc. We know that some of the first aid skills that were taught in 1916 are patently wrong now. Are we obligated by our charter to not change? Of course not. We still have the same goals or aims as before. We still market the BSA by the methods we utilize - which includes adult association, the uniform, the outdoors, advancement/awards, etc.

Tell a specific parent to do a specific task. Don't work in generalities - Who can help me out here? Practice giving out compliments - I see that you have a wonderful capability in showing the boys "X" - We are going to location "Y" next week and you'd be a great leader to organize and carry out that outing! You need to learn to be 50% youth leader, 50% saleman.

When I was a Unit Commissioner, I found it useful to let folks know that yes, I was once in their position (den leader, Scoutmaster, etc.) by wearing the knots for those positions that I had done in the past. I also found that for some scouts, albeit not a majority, they actually voiced an opinion that I, by wearing my uniform and some of the awards that I had earned, must actually care about my position and Scouting. Sometimes it was a conversation piece too. It also showed them that I had NOT earned the Eagle award (I was never a Boy Scout) and I always encouraged them to "one up" the Scoutmaster and earn that rank/medal/knot for themselves. The "adornment" that got the most attention from the boys however, were the shoulder loops I bought when I attended the Dorchester International Brotherhood Camporee - a set of Scouts Canada shoulder loops - Beavers (program for ages 5-7). That was a hot commodity. I would wear them something like once a year to a troop meeting. It got their attention, focused them on the uniform and showed them that even though they thought the Scoutmaster was always a very "by the book" type of guy, sometimes, just sometimes, he bent the rules too.(This message has been edited by acco40)

A politician gets more votes if he sends his constituents "jobs" or "projects" but not quite as much if they reduce spending - ergo, we get what we ask for. Remove tax deductions for dependents, home interest (or any other debt costs), etc. Eliminate the tax cap on social security (FICA wages) similar to medicare taxes. Eliminate special franking, secret service, retirement programs, etc. for themselves. Then reduce overall income tax rates. Does any politician have the guts to do such a thing? All politicians want to "cut taxes" and "eliminate wasteful spending", support our military, improve schools, help the poor, tax the rich, feed the hungry and house the homeless. The devil is always in the details.

The insignia guide covers this and I think Eagle92 got it correct. For example, on mine I have the BSA patch (comes with the jacket), the Philmont Bull on the shoulder and a big fat round Scoutmaster patch on the back (National Scoutmaster's Award of Merit). And yes, I have the official over priced BSA sanctioned jacket.