From: MAJ) Mike Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle (blackeagle@POP3.SCOUTER.NET)
Date: Thu Jan 13 2000 - 14:12:23 CST
Hi Scouters!
I'm STILL finding stuff put away from last year to post to these two lists.
I'm posting this to both Scouts-L and Embers because of the nature of the
information here. I'm REALLY sorry that I didn't post this back in OCTOBER
when I had the information tagged for my entry....
I get a lot of personal inquiries asking me "I've got this really old
*geezer* that has really helped out our Council. The guy's got it
all...Silver Beaver, District Award of Merit, several other Council awards,
and he's STILL at it. How do we come up with an appropriate "retirement" or
"thank you" award that he CANNOT find later on in a copy of the BSA's Supply
Division catalog and discover that "we've spent only $90.00 on him...." or
that "we spent "that much!!" on him"??"
The answer has always been "Get the person a "This is Your Still Life"
painting!"
This is usually accompained by a phone call or fax or a followup email with
a priority "indicator" which makes my computer yell (I've got it attached to
a wave file which has a person yelling at the top of their lungs!) to let me
know that someone's REALLY trying to reach me!
Here's the information. Please NOTE that your MUST have your Council's
Scout Executive or someone approved by him or her to sign and approve the
order and it IS a SPECIAL ORDER ITEM and cannot be refunded or returned.
But I've seen them...no, I DO NOT HAVE ONE, but I've been a part of the
process for getting several of them done (which is in part why I've been so
good about the insignia stuff...) and presented to quality Scouters for
their service and leadership to the BSA. It is a *very impressive item*
which any Scouter would be proud to make as a centerpiece in their home or
office lobby.
THIS IS YOUR LIFE STILL PAINTING is a painting depicting a volunteer or
professional Scouter's personal acheivements in Scouting over a long period
of time. It does not contain a portrait of the Scouter, but rather those
things which he and others have deemed important in his life as a volunteer
and/or professional. And unlike other BSA awards, this painting can be
presented to non-BSA members and chartered partners for their support of the
Boy Scouting programs locally.
Those "things" can be BSA or other organization's awards, a favorite summer
or long-term camp (like a longtime Philmont contingent leader may suggest
that the Tooth of Time be included in the painting), a favorite walking
stick (one Scouter that I've helped with this painting had a special walking
stick that he has used since he was a Scout. We took pictures of the stick
and included it in the painting. Roy was in tears when he saw that we took
the time to find something which was really associated with him...), or a
favorite saying. Those things make the painting more personal to the
holder and truly makes it more than a "stock award" given to a longtime
supporter of our programs. One woman was a Boy Scout and Girl Scouting
volunteer and we included several Girl Scouting badges and insignia in the
background along with her Boy Scout Wood Badge beads and a scrap of paper
with her Wood Badge totem drawn on it.
The BSA awards are taken from the BSA's official insignia guides and other
literature, and the personal or Council awards are provided by color or
black and white copies to the BSA's Supply Division. Together with a
description of the Scouter and his or her hobbies or work, it gives a
lasting image of that person's true service to Scouting and to youth. Each
painting is unique....this is not a "if a person sends in Eagle, Vigil and
Arrow of Light, this is the painting they will get" deal. Each painting
also details the thanks given by the presenters to the Scouter involved in
the way of a plate, a stretched hide between poles, framed certificate or
scroll which is also painted into the overall painting.
Each painting also comes ready to be hung, with an attractive frame and
engraved plate attesting to the ownership of that painting.
It takes 14 weeks for the painting to be made by one of the BSA's contracted
painters. You can also order a prelim sketch before the final painting is
done so that you can be sure to have it "all just right" before the paint
hit the canvas.
Paintings are shipped from the BSA's Supply Division directly to local
Councils only (which is why the Council's Scout Executive has to sign the
form). The cost of the "This is Your Still Life" painting are:
$290.00 for the 16x20" painting (BSA #5760)
$320.00 for the 20x24" painting (BSA #5761)
and $85.00 for the preliminary sketch (BSA #5760A)
I will scan the form and information in this afternoon and make it available
through the Unofficial Uniform and Insignia site later today, since I'll be
updating some of the content over there. In the meantime, you might ask
your Council or Scout Shop(tm) for BSA bin item #70-664.
You cannot order this item by phone...it has to be on the form provided and
the full cost of the painting must be sent in at the time of order (and the
signature is required). I'm really sorry for not posting this early enough
for units to make a special attempt to order one in advance of Blue and
Golds and special BSA90 events and activities in Feburary...but with four
months needed to get the item, this could possibly work for special Council
or District events in May or June, or even for holding for presentation in
August or September or even later.
I hope this will be of help to those Councils, Districts and especially
units that have longtime Scouters or Scouting supporters around, and do not
want to give this person clearly something that he or she could order from
the Supply Division themselves...and something rather special and unique to
that person...and to those presenting it to him or her.
Settummanque!
-----
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle)
http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle
[Purchase Your Binder! for Scouting's Y2K's publications!]
personal inquiries via kyblkeagle@aol.com,
blackeagle@pop3.SCOUTER.net or blkeagles@hotmail.com
professional inquiries via mike.walton@usarc-emh2.army.mil
-----FORWARD in service to youth and the nation-----
