desertrat77

I got the same note from my council. Three dates, three meeting locations...all in the major metropolitan area of our council HQ.

For those that strive for greater visibility of the Eagle rank, the change (and ensuing publicity) will be a boon. Instead of pinning on the Eagle medal at a ceremony and rarely seeing it again, more Eagles will now reappear at troop courts of honor for palm pin on. Hopefully this won't morph into the grand ceremonial flourishes that characterize Eagle COHs today.

I agree. Searching my fading memory, I can't recall any discussion back in the day about palms, other than an occasional "did you know" trivia-style comment about their existence. Can't remember any opinion among Eagles about palms, pro or con. If I had to sum it up, it seems the Eagles that stuck with the program enjoyed not being on the advancement tread-mill, and were happy to focus on other matters, like camping, helping others progress, and getting ready for life after high school. Today, it's my impression that many scouts earn Eagle at the last minute, and palms are the last thing they are worried about.

I don't think palms are that big of a deal. If a scout makes Eagle and is truly committed to the program, he'll stay and help. The bling may or may not interest him. Palms certainly won't hold an Eagle who is on the fence, or has decided to move on. Looking back, I made Eagle at 14.5 years of age. I had a couple years to earn palms, but ended up with two. I had a late rally right before 18 to earn the silver, but time ran out. That's that and life goes on. As a teenage scout, scouting had much more to offer than palms. After Eagle, I was SPL for a couple years, then JASM. Active in OA, went to NOAC and later served as vice lodge chief. Stayed active in a troop that emphasized outdoors, outdoors, outdoors. I continued to earn MBs, but only the ones that truly interested me. And as a swan's song, I earned Basketry as my last MB, right before I aged out. I'm ambivalent about the new policy. If it helps some scouts, great. Overall, I think the Eagle rank is already lauded far too much today. More attention, more after market devices... it just feeds the issue.

Beagle, that sounds right on the money. I like the ideal "if you earn it, you earn it." The etch of the specific law point is a very cool touch. The origin of my first post: I was reminded of a great scouter I knew in Alaska. He was the scoutmaster of a local troop, which was his primary focus, but everyone in the council knew and respected him. At the time, the BSA made these little round key fobs, fleur de lis on one side, oath on the other (I think). About the size of a quarter. A simple bead chain that could hold a couple keys. I'm guessing each cost less than a dollar. Mr. O had a habit of carrying several of these with him, and giving them to scouts that deserved them. One rainy day when I was on camp staff, he gave me one. Remember it clearly, and I still have it in my footlocker.

It seems that any "___________ of the Month" award leads to the results you mentioned--picking favorites, or diluting the award because several months go by and no one really deserves it. But the award is given anyway just to keep it rolling. I'd recommend a small memento be given for specific good turns that fall into the category of above/beyond the call of duty. It could be something as simple as a BSA key ring. Then the scouts and parents know it's not a routine thing, "Johnny got the award this month because it's his turn."

The Sundowner is still a smart looking ship. And "Lightoller" is a very cool name.

Many scouts today would still be keen to take on challenges like this. And do a darn good job.

Fully agree, but it was strange! "Scout BSA"...Scout Boy Scouts of America? At the time, some folks were fully convinced coed was going to happen. Granted, it was awhile ago and the rumors died down circa '75.

A thought on changing an organization's name.... Even if a mission changes, I've never seen the benefit of tinkering with the organization's name. I had a ring-side seat to this during my 30 years in the military. Multiple name changes of units to reflect a senior leader's preference, or a slight mission addition, or a new combo of old units. Or a desire to "church things up." Intentions are good but a name change usually results in something bland that doesn't really capture the spirit of what the unit does. Or the traditions. Then, for a variety of reasons, this blandness permeates the unit. The same with changing signage, literature and other stuff to reflect a new mission. The organization seems to lose something. If the BSA goes coed, the worse thing it could do is make wholesale changes towards gender-neutral. The girls that are already in the BSA, and the ones that will join, are drawn to the BSA because they like what this organization does. They typically aren't hung up on the types of nuances we are discussing in this thread. They want to hike and camp and be a part of a team. Change it and no one will be pleased.

Back Pack, they started to take "Boy" out of the title in the '70s. A little bit anyway. Check out the '72 - '83? green uniform tape over the right pocket--there is a red fleur de lis with "Scout B.S.A." Short-lived rumor at the time: it was groundwork for coed scouting. But then nothing happened.

Speaking as a sample size of one, a dad with a very committed Venture daughter.... She doesn't care about gender usage in literature, uniforming, or how nice or primitive a shower facility may be (as long as she gets bathe in due course, of course). Being outdoors, backpacking and boating, with like-minded young men and women--that's why she's in the BSA.

A bit of red arrow trivia. I was killing time one day, waiting for an appointment, and looked back on my more ancient posts. Some of my most innocuous, vanilla posts had a red arrow. Not many, maybe five or so. Timing appears to be during the big software switch several years ago. I mention this not as a complaint, but with a chuckle: my usual hobby horses/rants/screeds had no red at all.

Now that's a product I would have gladly sold as a scout! (I was a scout in the pre-popcorn days.) Candy bars: ugh. Tickets to local events: blah. Fireworks: good times, good sales. Christmas trees: weather wasn't always great but like fireworks, the troop worked hard for a short time span. Then the rest of the year, money in the bank.

Years ago, I was in a troop that sold fireworks. Three weeks of hard work but it sure paid off. Didn't have to worry about funding for the rest of the year.

Showers? Doesn't open swim count as a "bath?"

I think that's great news.

Ranman, further proof that your friend is better off elsewhere.... IH/COR has no idea? I think we know that app is in a folder, in a safe place, but they'll deny it. Pending an outside agency making a formal inquiry, that is.

"...with liberty and fraternity for all."

Fair enough.

This is good news for both the GSA and BSA. After attending Summit, no doubt many of the girls will want more outdoor adventure in the future, and less arts/crafts. Future Ventures?

I'm reminded of something a fellow student told me while I was attending a religious college many years ago. Late one night, after discussing a recent scandal at the school involving another student and his local church: "The Lord definitely sends His people to this college. The problem is, the Devil sends his people too."

Ranman, thanks for the insights. I'm sorry he had to go through all of that, but I'm sure he'll be a valued leader elsewhere. Re his personal info: I understand his concern. Being retired military, I know my full SSAN is on a truckload of performance reports that I wrote on subordinates. Some days it bothers me a bit, other not. However, even if he got all of the documents back, there is nothing preventing the CO from making copies for their own files. I'm all for fighting city hall, but in this case, I'm not sure he'll get any results that will be worth the trouble.

Agreed.

Very true, Stosh. On an unrelated note, it was enlightening, as well as sad, to look at the names associated with the previous posts in this thread. Some no longer post, for one reason or another. I hope they are well. Others are no longer with us, may they rest in peace.