"I used to be..."

This question was posted on the scouts-lds list. I've cross-posted my reply
to scouts-lds and scouts-l for the benefit of anyone else who may have not
known the answer to this question.

Janna wrote:
>BTW, guys, if any of you wants to explain the "I used to be a..." tagline
>on the ends of so many of your signatures, private email or post, I have
>been wondering for quite some time now, and figured I'd ask now, while I'm
>providing a little comic relief anyway...
>

You've probably already received a reply, but here is my attempt to explain:

During Woodbadge training, you are a member of a woodbadge patrol. For
example, I was a member of Magpie patrol when I did Scout Leader Woodbadge.
After you complete the training, you are no longer together as a patrol;
therefore you "used to be..." a ______ (insert patrol name). The line
actually comes from a song titled "Back to Gilwell" that is taught at
Woodbadge and sung at Gilwell reunions. The full words are:

"I used to be a _________ (magpie)
And a jolly good ________ (magpie) too
But now I've finished ______ing (magging)
I don't know what to do
I'm getting old and feeble
And I can _____ (mag) no more
So I'm going to work my ticket if I can."

CHORUS
"Back to Gilwell
Happy land, happy land
I'm going to work my ticket if I can"

(the words in brackets are to indicate how the appropriate patrol name is
inserted when you sing the verse for your particular patrol).

BSA woodbadge training uses a standard set of patrol names. However,
elsewhere a wider variety of names are used. Here, scouts use the various
patrol names used in scout troops (e.g. dingoes, kangaroos, emus, eagles,
scorpions, redbacks etc.), cubs use the colours of their six (a cub version
of a patrol - I believe the approximate BSA equivalent is a den) such as
"red six", "tawny six" or "white six", while Venturer leaders like myself
"used to be a Venturer" who has finished "venting" and can "vent no more"...

A comprehensive list of woodbadge patrol names from around the world can be
seen at http://www.kfumscout.dk/kku/wbpatrols.html

I used to be a Venturer...

YiS
_ .
Grant O'Neil _r| Ll\
Assistant Venturer Leader | |_|__\
2nd Ballajura Venturer Unit => \ |_|_ /
Swan Valley District ~~ `_'
Western Australia v

poneilgdo@alpha2.curtin.edu.au
http://student.curtin.edu.au/~poneilgdo/

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message
• Previous message