Romney on Boy Scouts

http://www.youtube.com/ ^ | romneyrecord

[Maelstorm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEOJNw4lmlI

[Caipirabob]

Romney on Boy Scouts

Yikes! Will someone peel him off already?

[Tax-chick]

Thanks, that was very informative!

My husband was invited to work at a Wood Badge course this spring, but we’ve already got a half-marathon and our youngest daughter’s First Communion on the second weekend of the course. Maybe he can do it in the fall.

[Frumanchu]

Though I had serious reservations about his Mormonism, I was willing to overlook that if Romney proved to be a genuine conservative; however, what is now obvious is that he is a liberal through and through, and I WILL NOT vote for a liberal simply because he is a Republican.

My thoughts exactly. This simply gives me one more reason not to vote for Romney. I'm down to Huckabee and Paul now.

(aww, crap...shouldn't have said that out loud...)

[RonF]

One other LDS Scouting practice that I’ve heard of (but have not confirmed) that would be at variance with standard Scouting practices is that they appoint their junior leaders (the Senior Patrol Leader especially) instead of having the Scouts elect him.

[broncobilly]

Thanks for that explanation. FR can be a great resource of information. Apparently, among its participants, there are experts on practically any subject you can name.

[MHT]

The appointment versus election falls right in line with control and authority lines within the Mormon church structure itself. No wonder their leader thought scouting was in alignment with their religion. For better or worse, boy-elections are important—they teach leadership, civic responsibility, and remind everyone that no term (good or bad) lasts forever.

[SZonian]

Just tell your husband “it’s all about the beads”. ;-)

Heh heh. It’s worth it to serve on staff for WB. I do it every chance I get. What kind of fool volunteers and PAYS to serve on staff? Me, that’s who.

Cheers,
SZ

[SZonian]

Typically that’s correct, the problems I faced are small units, 12 or less total boys. The Church program has the boys in the different aspects of Scouting based on age and quorom. 12-14 yr olds are Scouts, 14-16 yr olds are Varsity and 16-18 are Crew.

These age groups are consistent with the different quoroms they attend. The Leaders of each Scouting group is usually the leader of the quorom.

I have broken this mold with the unit I’m working with because there are only about 3-4 boys in each group. Not much chance for developing leadership there. I combined all three age groups into a Troop and have they held elections twice.

I have rec’d some incredulous responses from dyed in the wool LDS Scouters about my approach, but I tell them that both programs are intended to develop leadership. If they don’t have anyone to lead, then how can they develop leadership skills? Sometimes one just needs to take a semi-unorthodox approach to get things right.

Eventually they may move back to the church’s position on leadership roles, but for now, I have “free”(?) reign to right the ship.

Cheers,
SZ

[SZonian]

You sir, are correct. The LDS do have a Webelos program though, that was one you left out, but it’s only one year, 10-11 yrs old.

The comments about adult leaders are basically spot on with a few exceptions. I’ve met some of those exceptions and they do a fine job of balancing both BSA and LDS methods. Hard as it may be.

I served on WB Staff for a Course Director who is LDS and she did an excellent job. She and her husband have been exasperated in the past by LDS rules, but they plug on. Most, if not all of the time, it’s the individuals that make a successful program.

Good post,

Cheers,
SZ

[SZonian]

Aww shucks, thanks. It’s a challenge, but I feel fortunate in the fact that the adults that I’ve recruited and those that have been placed by LDS are stepping up and doing what they can knowing that their program is in dire straights.

Cheers,
SZ

[Coleus]

the LDS church became the first institutional sponsor of the BSA >>>

wasn’t the YMCA the first?

[Scoutmaster]

"Wasn’t the YMCA the first [institutional sponsor of the Boy Scouts]?

You may be right.

If there's a doubt or an ambiguity, then I'll bet both claim to be the first. What I've read lists LDS.

There's also the possibility that YMCA can make the claim because it sponsored BSA Scouting, while the LDS struck a deal to have a distinct Scouting program called "LDS Scouting."

It's not unusual to have different Scouting programs in a country; most European countries have several different Scouting organizations based on religion, labor unions, or distinct area of the country.

[barryg]

Has Romney disavowed this position? I would like to see a link stating that he is no longer for gays in the Boy Scouts.

[Scoutmaster]

"Has Romney disavowed this position?"

Not to my knowledge.

[fwdude]

Do you really propose we ask all youngsters who would join the Scouts to pledge on their sacred honor that they never entertained a gay thought??

Uh... yeah. It's called the Scout Oath.

On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Go troll elsewhere.

[Edit35]

mentally awake and morally straight.

Yes, and all who join the Scouts pledge to behave in a morally straight manor.

Can you police thoughts?

[fwdude]

Can you police thoughts?

Thoughts are hardly what are on trial in these incidents of homosexuals trying to force acceptance.