Disney/Eagle Scout Letter

[NHdisneylover]

It's obviously just people one knows or whatever, as I didn't know any scouts of any kind growing up, nor do I know any now. I learned they still existed in college when some girl scouts used our theatre for a thing and some people were confused by their existance and some were confused by our confusion, heh.

That makes sense, the 'if you stick with it, you get the top thing' part, though it doesn't explain how it's touted as some amazing, rare achievement, with the numbers, but the numbers themselves are still kind of amazing.

Can I ask where you grew up? I have never lived anywhere in the USA that you did not at least see scouts out selling cookies or popcorn at certain times of the year even if you were not active in scouting at all. I have lived in a lot of places in the US too

 

[cornflake]

Can I ask where you grew up? I have never lived anywhere in the USA that you did not at least see scouts out selling cookies or popcorn at certain times of the year even if you were not active in scouting at all. I have lived in a lot of places in the US too

Based on the youth #s that's about 1 in 48 of them get to eagle scout, irrespective of age or anything.

New York. We've always had kids selling stuff on the street, but it's the M&Ms or the catholic school chocolate bars. Never seen scouts of any type, still. Never even heard of scouts selling popcorn? I have heard of - and had - girl scout cookies, but from people in other places bringing them to work and such, never seen them being sold. Which isn't to say there's not some klatch someplace in NY (there's a mormon contingency, you see them on the train, so if all mormons are there must be some someplace), just not anyplace I've ever run into any.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Based on the youth #s that's about 1 in 48 of them get to eagle scout, irrespective of age or anything.

New York. We've always had kids selling stuff on the street, but it's the M&Ms or the catholic school chocolate bars. Never seen scouts of any type, still. Never even heard of scouts selling popcorn? I have heard of - and had - girl scout cookies, but from people in other places bringing them to work and such, never seen them being sold. Which isn't to say there's not some klatch someplace in NY (there's a mormon contingency, you see them on the train, so if all mormons are there must be some someplace), just not anyplace I've ever run into any.

Well, Girl Scout's national headqarters is in NYC so I am not sure how you have missed it.

Last year there were over 23,000 GIRL memebrs in the city:
http://www.girlscoutsnyc.org/

Apparently there are very few Boy Scouts in NYC, but the reason why generated a TON of news based on the number of articles that popped up when I looked for the numbers.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinio..._as_nyc_kills_scouting_gPiGtgrLwLUCiZejz0bF0I

 

[cornflake]

Well, Girl Scout's national headqarters is in NYC so I am not sure how you have missed it.

Last year there were over 23,000 GIRL memebrs in the city:
http://www.google.de/search?q=girl+...ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBEQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=653

Apparently there are very few Boy Scouts in NYC, but the reason why generated a TON of news based on the number of articles that popped up when I looked for the numbers.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinio..._as_nyc_kills_scouting_gPiGtgrLwLUCiZejz0bF0I

The headquarters of a lot of stuff is here, there's kind of a lot of office space.

As for the girl scout thing - that's 23,000 ... out of nine million people. I'm not surprised I've never run across one (I'd also wager they lean toward outer Queens & SI, but who knows where they may be lurking!).

The boy scout thing, never heard that. Certainly not surprised (and the boy scout distribution sortof bears out my suspicion about the distribution of girl scouts). I also dunno what you searched, but just 'boy scouts New York' doesn't bring up a single story about that, for pages, on straight Google.com.

Now I'm wondering how many mormons are in NY...

 

[NHdisneylover]

The headquarters of a lot of stuff is here, there's kind of a lot of office space.

As for the girl scout thing - that's 23,000 ... out of nine million people. I'm not surprised I've never run across one (I'd also wager they lean toward outer Queens & SI, but who knows where they may be lurking!).

The boy scout thing, never heard that. Certainly not surprised (and the boy scout distribution sortof bears out my suspicion about the distribution of girl scouts). I also dunno what you searched, but just 'boy scouts New York' doesn't bring up a single story about that, for pages, on straight Google.com.

Now I'm wondering how many mormons are in NY...

I out in Boy Scouts New York and that was my first hit and the entire page was full of articles

As far as Girl Scouts, the distribution among boroughs is in that link as a graph.
I can understand not personally knowing a scout, but it really surprised me that you would grow up and live in NY and have thought they no longer even existed. You see them in stores selling cookies, and in the paper talking about service projects and on TV talking about service projects and celebrations, etc.
I mean, to the best of my knowledge I do not know anyone in Little League Baseball but I know the organization is still around and thriving

 

[cornflake]

I out in Boy Scouts New York and that was my first hit and the entire page was full of articles

As far as Girl Scouts, the distribution among boroughs is in that link as a graph.
I can understand not personally knowing a scout, but it really surprised me that you would grow up and live in NY and have thought they no longer even existed. You see them in stores selling cookies, and in the paper talking about service projects and on TV talking about service projects and celebrations, etc.
I mean, to the best of my knowledge I do not know anyone in Little League Baseball but I know the organization is still around and thriving

I believe you, but I did the same thing on .com and didn't get the same result.

I don't see a graph - I see the coloured deal on the top row, but that's a graphic of the state, not the city. I can't find anything else...?

I've never seen a girl scout selling cookies anyplace. Nor have I, to my recollection, (though obviously, I don't recall most of the news broadcasts I've seen, heh) seen anything on television talking about girl scout stuff. Where would it be? News, news, weather, sports, how salad bars can kill, girl scout projects? I don't mean it in a derogatory to girl scouts way, but it's not like there's news on Boys and Girls Club projects or the local fencing team or high school sports or whatever (save the basketball tourney at the Garden) either.

I know little league exists! It doesn't make the news except if Staten Island or Jersey goes to the little league world series, or if they bust a 22-year-old in it, but it exists.

 

[tyniknate]

I think my mother put in just as much time, effort, and planning into my Eagle Court of Honor as she did each of my sisters weddings. Folks who have not earned the rank of Eagle themselves, been the family member or close friend of someone who has, simply cannot get it.

 

[tyniknate]

First of all, congrats to the Eagle Scout. It is indeed an accomplishment.

My personal opinion is that there is a huge difference between a scout leader asking for some congratulatory letters from congressmen, the president, etc as a third party and as the boy's scout leader and Mommy asking for letters for her son. A leader asking for congratulatory letters should be a special keepsake and part of many memories.

I do think it is helicopterish and snowflakey for a Mom to go asking for congratulatory letters. That to me seems braggy and tooting your own horn, something I was always taught was extremely rude and gauche.

My kids have had many major accomplishments that they have worked long and hard for. My son won the Speedo/NISCAA Academic All American Award for maintaining a 4.0+ for 4 years through high school and lettering in swimming all 4 years. (And I put in all those hours too, having him at the pool by 4:45am 5 days a week.) Only 1200 kids across the country were honored with this award. It never crossed my mind to puff up his ego by collecting congratulatory letters. If letters were to be had, that would have been the responsibility of the coach to seek out. It would have been highly inappropriate for me to go trolling for letters for him.

For your information, my DH is the leader and I am the Committee Chair. Thanks for your input, though. As the committee chair I work with the parents to plan their son's ceremony. If the parent thinks there is someone (notice the use of a singular) special that a boy would like a letter or citation from, I work on getting it for them. Obviously the majority of posters have never been a part of scouting and do not comprehend what it means to a scout and his family. I'm sorry you have never had the experience. We, however, will celebrate and I will be proud to give my son a "job well-done" note from Disney if I am able to obtain one.

 

[SaraJayne]

For your information, my DH is the leader and I am the Committee Chair. Thanks for your input, though.

Your position as Committe Chair doesn't matter. You're still a Mother looking for letters from anyone that will robo sign them and mail them to your son (who they don't know from Adam).

Congratulations from someone that has no idea who you are means nothing. Congratulations from family, friends and mentors should be more important.

 

[tyniknate]

Your position as Committe Chair doesn't matter. You're still a Mother looking for letters from anyone that will robo sign them and mail them to your son (who they don't know from Adam).

Congratulations from someone that has no idea who you are means nothing. Congratulations from family, friends and mentors should be more important.

That is the what the position of committee chair does. Obviously you know nothing about scouting. I do it for every other boy in our group who achieves eagle scout.....my son is no different.

 

[tyniknate]

Why the public display of these letters if it is not a competition or "bragging rights" thing? Satisfaction for a job well done should be seeing the project from start to completion. Just not getting why receiving letters from people who don't know the scout or have witness to the project are an important recognition of attaining Eagle Scout. Looks like it is far more important to the parents and leaders. I know several Eagle Scouts and they don't whip out a book of letters to show to friends and company.

I will bet they have those letters, though. If you weren't to their ceremony you wouldn't have seen them. It's not something they carry around in their back pockets.

 

[DebD4T]

Congratulations on your DS for attaining the rank of Eagle!!

My DS is also an Eagle scout and, yes, he has a binder with many congratulatory letters from various people.

While some letters are form letters, many of them also have a short personal note added.

I never considered it "strange" or a form of "bragging" to acquire these letters. I will also add that DH, DS and I enjoy looking through the binder from time to time.

If you have no involvement in scouting then I guess it may seem odd, but attaining the rank of Eagle is an exceptional feat and should be celebrated and if having a binder of "form letters" adds to the honor then no one has the right to question it.

JMHO, YMMV

 

[tyniknate]

You could send out two letters to Disney, one to Guest Relations (there's a generic PO number for this), and secondly to the Voluntears.

Disney has a lot of support for volunteers, and for the Scouts. There are several weekends a year of scouts (girls and boys), camping at Fort Wilderness. If you're going to be staying there or at Wilderness Lodge, I would put a note on your reservation that you will be celebrating your son's achievement. Or even write a letter to the front desk of the resort. That way it gets into the hands of a manager that might help you make the trip special.

They also do a flag raising ceremony every morning on the roof top at the Lodge. You have to request it at check in. It's an amazing view from up top.


I would also write to the President. He is known for handwriting letters back. I would make it a little more personal than generic (of my son is getting eagle scout), and place what he did to reach his goal. It might increase the chance of getting a personal letter back.

We actually did celebrate with a trip to Disney. We asked my DS how he wanted to celebrate and that was it. He was confirmed an Eagle Scout the day before Thanksgiving and we left the day after Thanksgiving for the trip. Didn't ask for buttons or cupcakes or anything else. When they asked if we were celebrating something special....I told them no. Wasn't looking for recognition as a mom for her son. Just a family celebration for a job well done.

Now in my job as committee chair I am looking for the recognition that I give to every other boy. How would my son feel if I didn't do what I'm expected to do and is done for every other boy. Honestly....helicopter parenting? Give me a break! My son isn't in sports, so we don't sit at an awards banquet every year where trophies are handed out for the kid who brings oranges without dropping them, and to the kid who plays well with others, and to the kid who arrives to practice on time each day. No, my son is only in scouting and has worked for 11 years to earn this award. I will not be ashamed, as a mom or committe chair, that he receives recognition for it. He has been to more training and is better prepared to handle the future than 99% of his classmates.

Flame suit on

 

[SaraJayne]

We actually did celebrate with a trip to Disney. We asked my DS how he wanted to celebrate and that was it. He was confirmed an Eagle Scout the day before Thanksgiving and we left the day after Thanksgiving for the trip. Didn't ask for buttons or cupcakes or anything else. When they asked if we were celebrating something special....I told them no. Wasn't looking for recognition as a mom for her son. Just a family celebration for a job well done.

Now in my job as committee chair I am looking for the recognition that I give to every other boy. How would my son feel if I didn't do what I'm expected to do and is done for every other boy. Honestly....helicopter parenting? Give me a break! My son isn't in sports, so we don't sit at an awards banquet every year where trophies are handed out for the kid who brings oranges without dropping them, and to the kid who plays well with others, and to the kid who arrives to practice on time each day. No, my son is only in scouting and has worked for 11 years to earn this award. I will not be ashamed, as a mom or committe chair, that he receives recognition for it. He has been to more training and is better prepared to handle the future than 99% of his classmates.

Flame suit on

The point I'm making (along with others in the thread) is the recognition is meaningless from people that have no idea who he is.

Receiving recognition from friends, family, coaches, church leaders, mentors, etc should be the focus.

 

[goofy!]

That is the what the position of committee chair does. Obviously you know nothing about scouting. I do it for every other boy in our group who achieves eagle scout.....my son is no different.

will you be requesting or have you ever requested a letter from Disney for all the boys that will be attaining or have attained Eagle Scout? Or is this particular to your son?

Did you put in the same effort to collect letters for the other boys that you are putting in for your son?

Many children from all walks of life accomplish great things. While a wonderful goal and a great job to attain Eagle Scout, it is no more special than some of the other great accomplishments other kids have attained.

My physician's sons have taken a mission trip to the Amazon every single year since they were young. Dad does medical work while the boys dig latrines and do all sorts of other manual labor. Two so far have gone on to West Point. Yet, unless you knew them personally, you would not know that they do all these wonderful things.

Most people I know would rather be humble about their accomplishments. I think that is what is rubbing people wrong on this thread, the whole "I am so wonderful and great, I want everybody to know about it and send me a letter congratulating me." That is not being humble. Most people have been taught that blatant bragging is something to be avoided.

If bragging about your accomplishments is the culture of the BSA, I am glad my boys never participated.

Again, congratulations to your son on attaining Eagle Scout. His hard work and dedication has paid off and it will be lessons he can take forward in his life.

Edited to add: A good friend of ours has boys in scouts The oldest two have attained Eagle Scout. I e-mailed him and asked if seeking out tons of bragging rights was the norm around here. Just got an answer back: NOPE. A few from local businesses and politicians and one from the White House, but never a campaign to see how many letters they could collect.

 

[goofy!]

We actually did celebrate with a trip to Disney. We asked my DS how he wanted to celebrate and that was it. He was confirmed an Eagle Scout the day before Thanksgiving and we left the day after Thanksgiving for the trip. Didn't ask for buttons or cupcakes or anything else. When they asked if we were celebrating something special....I told them no. Wasn't looking for recognition as a mom for her son. Just a family celebration for a job well done.

Now in my job as committee chair I am looking for the recognition that I give to every other boy. How would my son feel if I didn't do what I'm expected to do and is done for every other boy. Honestly....helicopter parenting? Give me a break! My son isn't in sports, so we don't sit at an awards banquet every year where trophies are handed out for the kid who brings oranges without dropping them, and to the kid who plays well with others, and to the kid who arrives to practice on time each day. No, my son is only in scouting and has worked for 11 years to earn this award. I will not be ashamed, as a mom or committe chair, that he receives recognition for it. He has been to more training and is better prepared to handle the future than 99% of his classmates.

Flame suit on

wow!!! How incredibly rude, being dismissive of other children's accomplishments.

Now I understand. Explains everything.

Nobody had put your son down, nobody had diminished his accomplishments. In fact, every single person on this thread has acknowledged what a great accomplishment attaining Eagle Scout is and has offered congratulations.

It is only the seeming practice of obtaining as many letters that does not sit well with some people. It has nothing to do with your son's accomplishment.

I will take my son's Speedo Academic All American Award that only 1200 students, boys and girls (not 50,000) accomplished, that did require us to sit through 12 years of "those" yearly banquets if being the parent of an Eagle Scout makes them think their kid is better than any other kid.

And thank you very much, my kid was well prepared for life, even being a sports kid and not a scout. He is currently on the Deans List at his University in the hardest major the university offers. Oh, and due to his "sports academic award", he had basically his pick of universities when he applied.

 

[tyniknate]

will you be requesting or have you ever requested a letter from Disney for all the boys that will be attaining or have attained Eagle Scout? Or is this particular to your son?

Did you put in the same effort to collect letters for the other boys that you are putting in for your son?

Many children from all walks of life accomplish great things. While a wonderful goal and a great job to attain Eagle Scout, it is no more special than some of the other great accomplishments other kids have attained.

My physician's sons have taken a mission trip to the Amazon every single year since they were young. Dad does medical work while the boys dig latrines and do all sorts of other manual labor. Two so far have gone on to West Point. Yet, unless you knew them personally, you would not know that they do all these wonderful things.

Most people I know would rather be humble about their accomplishments. I think that is what is rubbing people wrong on this thread, the whole "I am so wonderful and great, I want everybody to know about it and send me a letter congratulating me." That is not being humble. Most people have been taught that blatant bragging is something to be avoided.

If bragging about your accomplishments is the culture of the BSA, I am glad my boys never participated.

Again, congratulations to your son on attaining Eagle Scout. His hard work and dedication has paid off and it will be lessons he can take forward in his life.

Edited to add: A good friend of ours has boys in scouts The oldest two have attained Eagle Scout. I e-mailed him and asked if seeking out tons of bragging rights was the norm around here. Just got an answer back: NOPE. A few from local businesses and politicians and one from the White House, but never a campaign to see how many letters they could collect.

NO WHERE DID I SAY I WAS COMPILING A BRAGGING BOOK. THIS IS THE ONLY LETTER I AM REQUESTING FROM ANYONE OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENT AND LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES. I've stated that more than once in this thread. Others have stated that they compiled lists of letters and that is fine. But this is the one in particular that I think would make him happy. Do I do it for the others? I do exactly the same thing. President, local representative and one person/group that would mean the most to the boy. Please show me where I stated I was soliciting letters from all of those people. In fact, what you have typed as coming from your friend....he solicited several more letters than I have. People need to pay attention to what is being posted and by whom. You are totally off the mark.

 

[SaraJayne]

wow!!! How incredibly rude, being dismissive of other children's accomplishments.

Now I understand. Explains everything.

I will take my son's Speedo Academic All American Award that only 1200 students, boys and girls (not 50,000) accomplished, that did require us to sit through 12 years of "those" yearly banquets if being the parent of an Eagle Scout makes them think their kid is better than any other kid.

Goofy, congrats to your son on his very impressive accomplishment!

Sadly, the attitude in the post you quoted is typical for many Scout parents, in my experience.

 

[tyniknate]

wow!!! How incredibly rude, being dismissive of other children's accomplishments.

Now I understand. Explains everything.

I will take my son's Speedo Academic All American Award that only 1200 students, boys and girls (not 50,000) accomplished, that did require us to sit through 12 years of "those" yearly banquets if being the parent of an Eagle Scout makes them think their kid is better than any other kid.

I was simply making a point. Those of you who think that an Eagle Scout is a dime a dozen need to understand that it is no less worthy than anything that your child receives. Awards are handed out for everything these days and all parents like to see their child be recognized. Why is this accomplishment any less worthy than your son's? You were the one who implied that your son was better for winning an award that only 1200 received, compared to one my son received. You are the one who made it personal.

 

[goofy!]

I was simply making a point. Those of you who think that an Eagle Scout is a dime a dozen need to understand that it is no less worthy than anything that your child receives. Awards are handed out for everything these days and all parents like to see their child be recognized. Why is this accomplishment any less worthy than your son's? You were the one who implied that your son was better for winning an award that only 1200 received, compared to one my son received. You are the one who made it personal.

Wrong. I said that many children accomplish many different things and gave examples of kids I know who have done great things. Mission trips, sports awards, academic awards, etc.

I used my son's example in that he also had an accomplishment that he worked hard for, yet I felt it would have been highly inappropriate for me to seek out letters congratulating him. It was a comment about the letters.

And I congratulated your son in several posts, rather than saying my kid is better than 99% of his classmates.

Never once did I tear down being an eagle scout like you did kids who participate in sports.

Like I said, I now understand completely. Good Luck. And again, Congratulations to your son.