dsteele

I'm back from vacation. I don't weather it well. So I guess I discuss poop for a living. I'm not sure that's any better! KoreaScouter, I'm glad you liked it. It's good to be back. DS

It's good to know that we're surrounded by Scouters who really know their scat! Sorry, guys. I just couldn't resist. I hope you both laughed. DS

Well put. It's easy for us to forget that the Boy Scouts of America is a very large organization and that logistics can be difficult. Thank you for pointing it out. DS

Bob: I'm on vacation and have already been hollered at for being on these boards while taking a couple of days off . . . so I'll be brief. On the national tour permit, there is a spot where you can request an international letter of introduction. The letter basically verifies your registration with the BSA and asks other scouting organizations to extend you simple courtesies. You don't need to file a national tour permit to request and international letter of introduction. I would suggest you contact your local scout executive and have him request one for you through the inter

Eamonn -- The simple ansswer is you write to them and invite them to the court of honor. They typically don't attend, but the inviation may trigger a letter. The offices of the President of the United States and many senators and congressmen have standard letters that the staff send out. You'll have to dig on the internet or elsewhere for addresses of folks like Bob Hope. I was once at an Eagle Court of Honor where a beautifully written letter from Michael Jordan was read. I don't know how they got an address for him, but I'm pretty sure Michael didn't write it. Not that who wr

One last word and then I'm off for a nap (there really wasn't anything of interest on television.) I am dressed. I'm also in my underwear, but have the decency to wear clothing over it just in case I feel the need to salute or sing the Scout Vespers. One never knows when the urge will come. Back to Gilwell . . . (seriously, I'm not a die-hard, just didn't want to package a chess set.) Have a pleasant day. I'm outta here for now. DS

Thanks, TwocubDad for reminding me that I am on vacation. There's not much diferentiation betweeen work and play for a long-term professional. I see these forums as a way of playing. However, your posts do bring me back to reality. If I caught one of my DE's spending his (actually I have as many her as I do him D.E.'s) taking time on their days off to answer Scouting questions, I'd knock their block off for running the chance of burning themselves out. There's no snow on the ground here and the river broke up long ago. I think I'm going to knock off and go watch television. I'm

Jeez -- I think you guys have stumbled on yet another reason I don't want to work for National. I'm a local guy. We get stuff out as close to when we say we will as we can. Stuff happens, and like everyone has pointed out, you try to budget for it. Sometimes more stuff happens than you're banking on. And sometimes even more stuff comes up. Al I'm asking for is a little patience and trust. But I'm not asking you to be patient with me, or to trust me. I'm not on the national committee on Cub Scouting (there is one) or on the staff reporting to the National Program Director.

Pam: It sounds like a good rule to me. This is one of many areas that is somewhat open to local interpretation. Your council said 6 months to one year. It seems to have worked. Congratulations. Eisley -- it's a simile. I said like an an extention cord. One of the few benefits of my english minor . . . DS

Let's go back to the Star Trek analogy, only this time we'll move to Scottie. He once said to Geordi, on The Next Generation (or one of the movies, I'm not that big of a Trekkie) "Never tell them how long it really takes!" This is a process we professionals call sand-bagging. If you're sure you can have it by August 1, you say, I think it will be available October 15th. You can read my previous posts if you like, you'll see that I'm not one one those oily politician type professional scouters. However, things do happen. Production of printed materials quite often takes longer tha

Steele's option number three requires a leap of faith that is difficult to make. You're an ASM and, I think, on the right track. Allowing our youth the opportunity to fail -- and I think that's what we're talking about -- is never easy. When the adults tell the youth what to pack and where to put it, I suspect it's out of fear that something crucial will be forgotten. Well, I say, watch the youth pack and if they forget something, just quietly pack it away somewhere else and let them ask for it later. In that way, they'll learn. I hear this kind of complaint most often when by old-

Thanks, Bob, for bringing us back on track. While it is technically possible to charter units to groups of concerned citizens, it shouldn't be done except as a last resort. There are a lot of other options available. As far as I'm concerned (this is an opinion,) a unit chartered to a group of concerned citizens is like an extention cord plugged into itself. The connection is met, but there isn't a whole lot of power when you need it. DS

I've seen the interview for scoutmaster process before. I'll warn you that it can become ugly. This type of thing hit the newspaper in a small community within the district I served while a DE. There is nothing that says you can interview for the position of Scoutmaster. There's nothing that says you can't. There's nothing that says you should. You can look for resources, but you won't find them. The selection is up to the approval of your chartered partner. Since you indicate that you have many other adult leaders, I don't blame you a bit for the interviews. It may even be a

Twocubdad (although I like Mr. Dad as a title) I know you're not picking on me and I appreciate your blessings. I truly do. I am on vacation, but the fact of the matter is that I do not consider posting on this board to be part of my job. It's using part of my expertise, true, but I'm not duty bound to answer. I do it because I enjoy it and really feel welcome. At any rate, my friend (I don't use that term losely,) you're right about the way it should be. I like your roll out plan for the new books. Your gripes are legitmate and I'm about to provide one scenario that hopefully will

You've asked me before, and I'll say it again, Amen Eamonn! (That fits along with the tune of a song I've long forgotten. Joni -- I can't help you. Try the "gods of the forums" under the contact us link. DS

The answer to KoreaScouter's question is either found or not found on the back of the respective cards. I don't happen to have either card with me at the moment, which means I can neither add weight or detract credibilaty from the myth at the moment. It also means I probably shouldn't be using my zippo st the moment either. DS

Thanks for the offer of weight. I'll decline, however. I used to sell big & tall clothing and know how hard it is for men to find pants with over 42" waists, but few know how hard it is to find men's pants with under a 30" in waist. Or even a 30" waist for that matter. When retail is in a slump, it's the small sizes that disappear first. When I used to have a 28" waist, I had to shop in the boys' department. That wasn't too bad because the boy's clothes were cheaper. But the zippers were shorter and that made life uncomfortable. So I cheered when I could wear size 30's. Ma

Amen, Eamonn! DS

Thanks for providing the voice of reason, Barry. That's what I should have said rather than getting irritated. From what I've seen of the Oklahoma responses on this forum, perhaps I should put that great state on my list of future places to live. At the moment, however, I am content in Wisconsin, as is my wife. We've lived in Michigan (our home state) Illinois, and now Wisconsin. I do have to admit that the cheese here is very good. Hee-hee. DS

That's funny! Thanks for the laugh. If it's any comfort, you still qualify for Philmont. Yours in cheerful service, DS

Eamonn: That's a great story. Let me tell you one I heard personally from Chief Scout Executive Roy Williams that had us all (by us I mean every Scout Executive, DFS, ASE, etc. in attendance at the Top Hands meeting in 2001.) Roy was newly minted as CSE at the time. He told us at the Jamboree he witnessed a run and one of the Scouts at the time at that particular Jamboree was a victim of multiple sclerosis (MS.) The kid couldn't walk, and one of his buddies dragged him around in a pull-cart for the entire experience. Roy was standing at the finish line for the run and the sco

Let me reiterate a couple of things. One is that I'm on vacation and don't have all of my resources with me. The second is that I don't think we're talking about a whole lot of requirement changes. The third is that the books have been changed before, and they're being changed again. The fourth is that I don't have copies of the new books and I don't believe anyone else does, either. My advice -- don't sweat it a whole lot. National is providing a transitional period between one book and the other. As for what to tell kids using the "wrong book," I'd say, don't tell them it's the wr

Isn't it amazing what high school aged-kids can accomplish with adults guiding them, but not doing it for them? I saw it Saturday in my Kiwanis role working a pancake supper. We couldn't have done it without them. In my book a leader has three choices and all are applicable at some given time depending on the ages and what's to be led. Those options are lead, follow or get the *&%% out of the way! When you've got sharp high-schoolers, choose the last option. Great job ASM! DS

Marty -- Kudos to you! Excellent advice for all BSA units. I don't know how many times I've had to weigh in when units get into avoidable fire-fights over what happened to the money. There should be two signatures for every significant expenditure. Councils have a rule (not all follow it) that at least one professional and one volunteer sign every check. This is for the protection of all concerned. I was a little concerned Saturday when, during my Kiwanis Club's annual fund-raiser (which is a pancake day where we served pancakes and sausage to 8,056 people) I ran out and bought

Man of Steele -- I like that! At five foot six and a hundred and twenty pounds it's nice to be called the man of Steele. The e on t he end means I'll bleed if you shoot me. DS