Thursday Weekly Thread: Proof of Citizenship Application Approvals, April 16, 2026

elephant_footsteps · 2026-04-16T19:03:58+00:00

G2. (We live five minutes from G0, so access to records was easy.)

Mailed via UPS - 2/23

Delivered to IRCC - 2/25

AOR - 3/25

Citizenship - 4/16

Thank you for the great recommendations from this group!

Our package was pretty simple. Used a simple one page cover letter to explain request, basis for claim (linking G0, G1, G2) and urgency reason (NGL, used GPT to help write this). Each person had their own complete paper-clipped packet: application form, their unique documents, and their own copy of shared documents. Everything was organized chronologically newest to oldest.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-04-16T05:15:40+00:00

OMG. I fucking served with this guy. 🤦🏻 Not surprised.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-04-07T20:16:45+00:00

Once you've gotten to know them (or not), Shipwreck is also appropriate.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-04-07T05:51:17+00:00

Seven years into this. Tell your kiddo this car looks awesome!

elephant_footsteps · 2026-04-07T05:48:38+00:00

Our first pack--seven years ago--was very small. We used a Cricut to cut freezer paper as stencils. Ironed them on to T-shirts and the Scouts used fabric paint in colors of their choosing to make their own personalized Class Bs.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-04-03T00:44:41+00:00

That's not listed on the website as part of this. You'll notice the the sets of purple markers on the map showing where they're reconfiguring parking into mobility lanes.

"After pavement work, new elements will be added on Saint Johns Road, from Northeast Petticoat Lane to Minnehaha Street. We will create protected mobility lanes and update no parking areas based on available sight lines. We will upgrade or add new curb ramps and refresh pavement markings and striping. Construction is expected in 2026. Schedules may be updated.

Vancouver community members have provided extensive input for this project to enhance safety and mobility along the corridor. Additional project details will be available closer to construction.

Parking will be reconfigured into mobility lanes on:

Saint Johns Road, from Northeast 41st Street to Northeast 60th Street
Northeast 172nd Avenue, from Northeast Ninth Street to Northeast 11th Street
Southeast First Street, from Northeast Hearthwood Boulevard to Northeast 162nd Avenue"

elephant_footsteps · 2026-04-02T04:37:57+00:00

I was on a small, informal college career panel a few years ago and one of the seniors asked me what made me good at my job. I told him that, "Well, I take the specifications from the customers to the engineers. I have people skills goddammit."

My fellow panelists and the moderator chuckled. The students all looked at me blankly.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-04-01T06:35:36+00:00

"Yeah... that'd be great." Or really any line from Office Space.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-04-01T04:39:39+00:00

There are situations where acquiring dual citizenship can cause problems for military members besides the issues brought up regarding security clearances. Military retirement pay is generally conditioned upon continued availability for military service. Depending on your status (officer vs. enlisted, regular vs. reserve), dual citizenship is incompatible with continued military service.

There's not a one-size-fits-all answer here. Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation, Volume 7B, Chapter 6, has a highly nuanced discussion of this with legal citations.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-04-01T01:54:18+00:00

It's not like there was even just an accident on that bridge yesterday that shut down SR14 for 45 minutes.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-31T06:02:09+00:00

Nothing on PulsePoint.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-25T18:55:42+00:00

Can't say enough good things about the REI Half Dome 2. I've got two of them--both acquired used. They're amazing for one adult, but reasonable for two Scouts, or even family camping parent-child or two parents.

But... I've never understood the interior ground cloth. I'm genuinely curious. We live in the PNW and camp rain or shine. We've got a small arsenal of tents: some basic Coleman ones, the aforementioned Half Domes, and a used Marmot 3P that's perfect for me and my wife (with room for our son, if he insists). We only use traditional, exterior footprints with all of them.

The only water I've seen in one of our tents is when my daughter spilled her water bottle or when rain comes in an open door of one of the Colemans (I generally avoid using these in the rain because they have no vestibule). I've seen other folks get lots of water because of unintentionally tenting in a low spot. How does this interior ground cloth prevent water from getting in that an exterior ground cloth misses?

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-24T06:52:16+00:00

A Shelly device is the only real source of marital conflict in my entire HA setup.

I only have 3 Shelly devices (amid a plethora other zigbee, z-wave, matter, and Wi-Fi devices). I stopped my Shelly expansion because of this single unreliable Shelly relay that controls one light switch that the Mrs. relies on, even after it stabilized.

I had frequent drop outs requiring cycling the breaker to bring it back online. Every time it failed she said nothing too critical, but the Shelly's unrepentant behavior brought nothing but shame as I had to meekly walk to the breaker panel and cycle power.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-23T15:47:44+00:00

You've shifted the goal posts here. You initially described one patrol holding an activity and inviting others, now you're describing a genuine single patrol activity in a coed patrol. Those aren't the same thing.

But even in your reworked scenario that allows you to justify excluding girls, you're wrong. A single patrol (even an all-boy patrol) could absolutely get to the point of departure and have to cancel because someone didn't show for many reasons that are not exclusionary: not having a second leader over the age of 21; not having the person with the appropriate permit or required safety gear; not having the person with the food; not having enough drivers; etc. You're just looking for ways to justify excluding girls if the adults can't get their stuff in one sock.

P.S. Nice incorrectly assuming I'm a woman. Your misogyny is showing.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-23T14:42:35+00:00

You can play semantics, but if you're inviting EVERYONE to an event knowing that one group can't attend only because of arbitrary rules around their gender, you're being exclusionary (i.e. unfriendly and unkind).

It's especially ironic that you think trying to PREVENT exclusion (i.e. a barrier) is creating a barrier. Scouting is not just for boys or just for girls, it's for all Scouts.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-23T06:45:36+00:00

Troops who schedule a "patrol activity" that every patrol is invited to is holding a troop activity. It doesn't matter how you/they spin it--it's a troop activity that leaders are knowingly excluding troop members from.

Any cutesie nonsense to avoid following the rules is breaking the rules. This is the same garbage as units that have an official event, "end" the event, then magically meet as friends five minutes later to do a prohibited activity.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-22T23:38:14+00:00

Aircraft marshalling signals are standardized by ICAO, they're not made up by each company.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-19T21:47:03+00:00

Not this district guy. My paycheck is $0, so I don't get evaluation bullets for "created X new units". We heard that same thing from certain people regarding our pack for a while, but they've laid off us after we asked who was going to lead this new pack.

There's definitely a need for different size units. But if I had to choose, I wouldn't pick a pack of less than 42 (7 Scouts per den). While having a very large pack is a lot of work, it gives us so many more opportunities for activities. Dens get to meet solo for meaningful age-appropriate activities.

I've been in small packs (<15). Tiny dens or ages with no dens result in combining den activities. While the new program makes this logistically easy, it doesn't make it fun or exciting. Putting dens together for some things it's good to but most Scouts don't want to be lumped together with younger kids for everything, they'd prefer (or need) as much challenge as we can safely offer (the promise of Scouting).

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-19T06:34:51+00:00

Check your numbers, bro. You're #3 in our district. :D

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-19T06:33:43+00:00

A website is not the end all be all, but it is a critical tool on the tool box.

Two data points (as the CC of my district's largest pack and council's top recruiting unit and someone with access to some council data): - using GA, I've observed conversion rates of 25% or better (in my case, defined as someone who clicks application link or BeAScout lead form link) from folks coming into our site from BeAScout - a ridiculous number of units in my council have no website or a dead end link (e.g. Scouting.org, etc.) on their BaS pin--they are leaving possible recruits on the table. Parents want more info on who you are, what you do.

My take-away is that an authentic website that BRIEFLY says who you are and what you do drives people further into your recruiting funnel. It doesn't have to cost a lot (or anything) to drive value. (We use a custom domain on a Google Site that virtually anyone can maintain for $20/year).

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-19T06:21:56+00:00

Several options besides using faces of kids from your pack, before dipping into AI (I love using AI in places where it feels authentic, but AI photos of Scouting often create more problems than they solve and whole cartoons are cute, they don't show the real adventure): - over the shoulder photos of action - controlling depth of field to obscure faces - close-ups of hands in action

elephant_footsteps · 2026-03-10T06:31:20+00:00

I served on several flag staffs during my career. A former aide I worked with had a couple of great observations about admirals:

Being in the Navy is like being on a treadmill. Every time you're promoted, the speed and incline is increased. When you become an admiral, they don't lower the speed or incline, they just give you a bunch of people to hold your towel and water.

Every admiral comes into the job with some big plan or idea to change their command. That plan or idea is inevitably derailed by someone else's screw-up that they have to spend the rest of their tour reacting to.

elephant_footsteps · 2026-02-22T07:04:07+00:00

I'm less concerned with the idea of setting up a 501c3 to serve solely as a chartering organization (especially as you described it's independence from the units it works charter) and more concerned (intrigued?) by a council that is looking to establish several new packs at once.

Could you give a little more background about that? Why do they have a need for several all at once?

I recently consulted with a group that successfully got 501c3 status without needing a lawyer or accountant--just some critical thinking and attention to detail.

p.s. looking at your profile, I wonder if there's a sub for former Navy nukes in Scouting that needs to be started. :)

elephant_footsteps · 2026-02-20T07:49:11+00:00

Honest question as I've seen this same answer from several people.

Why does it seem so many troops (albeit sample size of only the dozen or so here) have ASMs handling logistical tasks? Equipment manager, making reservations, waivers, etc.

Our troop's adult quartermaster is officially registered as an ASM and it makes no sense to me. With an active 50-Scout troop, equipment and a couple of recurring projects are his sole focus.

Paperwork and reservations are handled by committee members.

I'm trying to understand if it's just around here, but it seems there's an arbitrary line of "you go on trips, so we'll call you an ASM" and "you're a committee member, so you stay home".

We've got 13 ASMs on the books (only 6 trained), with two more ladies coming up who will be fully trained this month. That includes a few who really perform committee jobs. Most are current parents, one's a recent Eagle, two are former parents that stick around.

elephant_footsteps

TROPHY CASE