dsteele

Nicely answered, Bob. Speaking specifically about my current council as it relates to our summer camp paying for our overhead for owning the property year round, I'll answer it specifically. We own two properties. One is our Boy Scout Summer camp. It's very north in Wisconsin and it is used basically only for 5 weeks of camp. The rest of the time it just costs us money. We budget for summer camp to help defray the loss, but unless we charged about $500 per kid per week at summer cmap, it's a loss. Our second property is within an hour of the council service center and about an hou

There are a lot of good resources mentioned so far, but no one has brought up my favorite. It's my theory that this wonderful tool is the most neglected tool in Cub Scouting and is the most useful to a Den Leader. I'm referring to Program Helps. Program helps provide the agenda for every den meeting -- including the game to play, craft to make, pre-opening activity, etc. Even if you don't use them right "out of the book" (and nothing says you have to,) they can still save you a lot of work in your planning. They are available as a single publication, or (if you're registered as a

Excellent advice. DS

Maybe I'm breaking the mold, but although I've said that the 100% cotton uniform is best suited for the outdoors, let me also tell you that I don't hesitate to wear the "dressier" poly-woll uniform outdoors. Or even when I have to go camping. In another thread, I indicated that I prefer the Marriott, but if you think I can't handle the camping, lashing, knot-tying, get your hands dirty stuff, you've got the wrong impression of career BSA professionals. I do wear my poly-wool uniforms outside when it's hot. The poly/wool also comes in a very dressy and superior pair of short. There's n

We had an assistant scoutmaster in the late seventies who wanted the red beret to be our troop hat. I think he's out of jail now. Seriously! He went to jail for some bad business practices. Didn't have anything to do with his bad taste in hats, but us kids thought justice was served. I liked the overseas hat when I was a young Scout. It served no useful purpose, but I liked it. I didn't want to wear it often, just tuck it under my belt. I prefer to wear no hat at all, but if I must, I like a skull-gripping golf cap rather than a nerdy baseball-style cap. As to the rest of

MP, eh? Let's not go there. Speaking of English as a second language, Eamonn, next time we talk, remind me to tell you the story of the confusion an Englishman and I had when we were talking about our leader in Peru getting "pissed." It means something completely different in English than it does in American. Abbott and Costello were kidding. Robert (my young English friend from long ago who is different than my friend Eamonn) and I truly didn't know what the other was talking about. Care to supply some definitions, Eamonn? DS

Before I head off to my training committee meeting tonight, let me say that I hope people will forget the anacronym above. I'm reminded of a story (big surprise.) I once made the mistake of telling a Wood Badge patrol during lunch at their site that I was born in 1965 and was lucky I wasn't "Moon-puppy." The patrol never forgot it and neither did the staff. I was Moon-puppy for the rest of the week! Before you smart-alecs start calling me Moonpuppy, let me point out that I take ribbing about as well as any man . . . and that ain't saying much. DS

OMG! (Oh MY God): I believe I've started something terrible that can't be stopped. Levity! What if Steele stands for STEELE -- (Stupidely Terrifying Eagerly Eccentric Leader Employee?) The D still stands for Dave. DS

Did you folks enjoy the grey bar? Good. Packsaddle asked (paraphrased) If United Way bugs out, what areas of the overall BSA program take the hit? No more Cub Scouts! Just kidding. This isn't the first time I've had this question in varying forms. I've had plenty of time to warm up and have seen some real life examples of the stuff I'm about to share. However, I do have to warn you that losing a large amount of funding in a short period of time carries with it tough choices for council officers and Scout Executives. I was being sacrastic when I said no more Cub Scouts!

Packsaddle, thank you for joining me in trying to bring this thread back to funding. Don't worry, I'm not about to get out a soap box. You're not alone in not understanding where the money comes from. You're not alone in not seeing the need for a council, although that particular view is less frequent. To quote, you said, in part, "Our troop sees zip from the council." You gave councils credit for camp, and you were right to do so. I forget how you phrased it, but it didn't come across as offensive to me. As for the part about seeing zip from the council, let me take this op

I grew up in a car camping troop that occasionally backpacked. I enjoyed both. I was a Scoutmaster of a car camping troop. We didn't buy a trailer, although there was talk of it. Then I went to a Marriott. Now I'm that kind of camper. DS

I used to think that LOL means lots of love. It made a whole lot more sense when I finally found out that in today's world of email, it means "Laugh Out Loud." I'm glad I finally figured out what IMO and IMHO are. Until the light came on yesterday, I thought it was a ROAC (Random Act Of Capitalization.) I just made that one up. DS

I'm in no position to join the grousing about the uniform parts offered by the Boy Scouts of America. If you doubt that, just check out my profile. You'll understand why. Trust me when I say that I'm not content with the uniform parts. That's why I buy the poly-wool and cotton stuff. The cut and quality is better and their uses are different. I do ask that you realize that, although the membership of the BSA is vast, in terms of adults and youth members, our stuff -- compared to Walmart and Kmart, and other outlets, even the expensive jeans manufacturers is a huge, but special order.

I love the uniform stuff. This is an interesting thread. Let me preface by saying that I have no problem with anything mentioned so far in this thread. The pickle Eamonn wears is interesting. I've seen those before and may have even had one on the collar of my red jacket at some point in time. I don't remember what it stood for, either. It's not official, but it's just a pickle, after all! Maybe it's Freudian. I've lost my pickle and can't remember what it was for! LOL! At one time, I had nine uniforms (they were much more comfortable than a coat and tie and that's what t

Eamonn -- It's an interesting question. "Where do we get off making rules?" It's also a very valid question. I'm not being sarcastic in the least. When I was a Scoutmaster, I had a few rules (more traditions than formalized rules) that I carried from traditions in the troop I grew up in. No electronics was a big one. Remember, at the time, electronics meant the little AM radios all us us kids seemed to have. Did the troop committee or scoutmaster have the right to make that rule? I don't know. Usually, when asked about a troop "rule" or any other unit, I'll run it by the chartered

Care packages. Hmmm. Thinking like a 16 year old, and it's been a while, but it hasn't been that long. Here are a few different suggestions: 1. Baked goods from Mom. It doesn't matter if you bake them or if they come from Mrs. Archway (as in Archway cookies, get it? If he/she is used to them, they'll go a long way toward a much deserved smile. 2. Pre-paid phone cards, with the understanding that he/she doesn't have to use them to call home. There may be a special "crush" they want to call. Hey, you let them get this far, why not let them call their special friends?

It's been several hours and no CPA has come forward. Please, if you're a CPA and wish to contradict my opinion, I guarantee I won't be offended. Here's my take on the taking of deductions for voluntary stuff done in the name of Scouting. Mark, you said it in part of one of your sentences. You mentioned your work for Scouting. I'm paraphrasing, but I believe you were referring to your mileage/gas, copies, etc. You take these as deductibles, and from all I've been taught, you are correct to do so. There have been slight revisions in the tax code, but I think the interpretation is stil

Thanks, bondtrader. Welcome to the forums. They are filled with lots of good people and I'm glad you're one of us. Everyone has something to contribute, whether it be a well worded question, or one someone was afraid to ask, an opinion or an answer. I hope we'll get your input frequently. It's always good to have a financially knowledgeable addition to anything, in my opinion. Ds

Thre is one question on the floor, and it was directed at the professionals. It feels like I'm the only one here at the moment, so I guess it's up to me . . . Acco40 asked "Given the BSA's current policy, if another world Scouting organization allows avowed homosexual youth or leaders, may we in good conscience attend a camporee that they attend?" Acco, I have to admit that my first reaction was a theoretical reaction. Several different thoughts came shooting through my brain. The first was, what world scouting organization allows it? Then I realized that I don't know the answer t

Great idea, selling the games CD in the Scout Shop. I never thought of that one. We looked at the cost and realized that we couldn't afford to hand out 50 cents to every kid at every boy talk -- which is what was presented to us. But we could definately sell them at cost to the packs. Thanks for the great suggestion! DS

Mark -- Since you've strung three initials together and invoked the name of an organization I only have something to do with once a year, I'll wait for the CPA answer, too. For the record, (in case Mark's last line proves prophetic) I am brutally honest when I do my taxes each year and I'm sure our friend Mark does, too! DS

If I may shed a little light (Joni, correct me if I'm wrong.) According to the research I've done and the report I have in front of me, your council's headquarters is in Tokyo, Japan. Your council serves Americans in Japan, Korea, the Phillipines, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ryukyu Islands, and Thailand. In the latest report I have of unit serving executives (dated 12/31/2002) you have Two District Executives and a Scout Executives. Seems to me that those guys are stretched pretty thin. That means that your volunteer structure is also stretched pretty thin. It's no slam against you,

Bob, I don't think we were disagreeing with each other. After reading your latest post, I still don't find anything to disagree with. Admittedly homosexual leaders are given the "membership in the Boy Scouts of America is a privelidge" letter and are out. They can appeal, but until someone reverses the decision, they're done as registered leaders. When it comes to youth, as your post says, we recommend they seek the counsel of others to make sure they're making a mature decision. I wasn't looking to get into a discussion of homosexuality. It's non-productive. The BSA has made it

Man o' steel would have flown the flag to the top. But I can't fly, and I'm no super DE. I did recognize it as a great tool for publicity and did write a letter to the editor. I didn't send the letter, however. I should hang my head in shame for missing such an opportutnity, but I had the feeling that the donor wished to remain anonymous. That stayed my hand. If someone wants to use their goodwill to the BSA as publicity and it's good for the BSA, I'm all for it. If someone wishes to remain unknown, I'll do my best to protect that. As much as it may pain me to do so. But I do

In nearly 15 years of professional service with the Boy Scouts of America I have never seen nor heard of a young man being kicked out because of doubts about his sexuality. I've also never seen nor heard of an openly gay youth member being turned away by a troop. That doesn't mean it hasn't happened, but if it had occurred in my service area at any time, it certainly should have made my attention. The much debated policy of no homosexuals in the Boy Scouts of America relates to leaders. Not those under the age of 18. If a Cub Scout tells me he's gay, will I advocate his removal from t