dundalk83

Here are few suggestions I can think of to make this a little easier.

1. For those who can't get a physical within a timely matter due to insurance reasosns: Schedule an appointment with your child's pediatrician or doctor. Give a medical reason for the visit ( sniffles, sore knee, etc. something minor will do) while the Dr. is seeing your child, give him or her the physical form. I've done this on several occasions with my son's pediatrician and never had a problem. It helps to have a friendly relationship with your child's provider first.

2. If, as other posters have stated, the local minute clinics can do a physical for $50 ( sometimes 30 with a coupon) , why not schedule an official troop outing to the minute clinic? Let the clinic know way in advance. Then the scouts who need a physical only need to have a parent present and the 30-50 bucks for the physical. Perhaps the scout could use his personal scout account to help pay for the physical.

3.Lastly, is there a scout- friendly Dr. or physician assistant that might be interested in setting up a quickie clinic at your meeting place? Some of the parents may know someone that might be willing to do this. A bit of a long shot, I know.

Gee, I guess using something that's a family heirloom and built to last 70 years or more doesn't qualify me or my sons as the "elite". Please tell me BasementDweller, how the difference of a few ounces between a high density polyethylene frisbee and a thin walled stainless steel mess kit is going to make or break a backpacker. I haven't weighed the two to compare but I might even wager that the HDPE might be a little heavier!

Both my sons use the old WWII GI issue mess kits that my grandfather brought home from the war. I used one in the 70s and now it's their turn. Made of stainless steel, they are quite durable. Perhaps a little old school given the penchant for plastics and Nalgene bottles these days, but at least my kits have some history. If they could only talk about the places they've been...

Like others have posted, I thought up awards for every car, including parents who raced borrowed cars ( I called that one the GT-350H Rental Racer Award). Usually the night before I took picutres of every car and noted who built each one. Then I made up a certificate that was unique to the car. For instance one kid had a racer reminiscent of the old pickups that had the front end of a van. He also fashioned two surfboards for the bed. Of course this racer got the "Cowabunga Dude" award. One sibling simply had an uncarved block with wheels that she painted to resemble a school bus, that one won the "Board of Education" award, etc. Have some fun the award names and the kids will love'em.

Please please please check your local hobby shop first before ordering online. My local guy got a much better deal on Estes Alpha III bulk paks than I could ever get online. I also got my engines from him too. Let your hobby dealer know your buying for a Scout Troop or Cub Pack. Keeps the locals in business. If it's all done online, then the locals dry up and go out of business just when you need to run out and get some glue or paint, or a few extra motors.

I seem to remember growing around Baltimore during the 1970s, full uniform seemed to be the norm. I was a scout during the swithcover from O/D to the ODL uniform. I was out of scouting by the early 80s but often watched scout troops in local parades. I returned as an adult scouter in 2005. From my recollection of lacal parades, I'd say the full uniform fell out of favor during the late 80s/early 90s.

My own scout uniform experience was that I starting in 1975 with the current uniform of the period, olive poly/cotton shirt with thin olive poly/cotton pants. We wore the beret too. My pants lasted about 6 months until I wore the knees out. I got something on the shirt a few months later that wouldn't come out in the wash. My father took me to thrift where he bought me the cotton duck uniform from the 1950s. Now this, I thought, was a real scout uniform. I had no problem wearing it in the field or at troop meetings.

Fast forward to 2005: thrift shops no longer carry used BSA uniforms. It's my understanding that's out of legal pressure applied by the BSA to prevent uniforms from being mis-used as Halloween costumes. Ebay does of course carry them and I have told many a new parent/scout to purchase uniforms there. Of course the uniform pants are still poly cotton ableit they are twilled so they are a little more durable. 2009's Centennial uniform seems to be a move in the right direction with more durable fabrics and a better cut shirt. Too bad it's made in China. ( No I'm not looking for a flame war in the source of uniforms debate)

Actually, our charter org is supportive, especially recently. While the church is our charter org, we've finally been able to set up a recruitment booth at our church school's open house night in the fall. This is something we have not been able to do in the past. The school's new principal is receptive to the pack. The church's commmittee would also like to see a larger pack and greater visibility.

I guess this is the problem. After several years of parents thinking we were running a babysitting service, we've finally got good parental involvement. The pack seems to be on the verge of a breakthrough whereas in the past, it was on the verge of collapse.

I'm worried that if I don't stay to help mentor the new leaders, the pack will fail just when things are starting to improve.

Hello Scouters,

I'm a long time lurker and this is my first post. I'm a Webelos II den leader and ACM for my Pack. My son is an Asperger syndrome boy who has earned his AOL and is moving on to Boy Scouts. I'd like to move on with him and become an ASM with the troop my son is in.

My dilemma is this however. Recently I have learned that the CM wants to leave the pack too. His personal life and its issues are consuming more and more of his time.

My intentions along with the CM's departure will leave a serious leaderhsip vacuum in the pack.

We are a very small pack with only 5 boys, but we think it will grow as we have recently been allowed to recruit in our church's school. We haven't been able to do that in the past.

Our pack has two good Dads that have expressed an interest in becoming leaders. One is the Dad of a Tiger so, there is the chance he'll stay for awhile. The other is a Web I Dad, so at best we have another year with him. However, neither has run a Cub Pack. It would be best to allow them some time as ACM's before turning them loose. Both I and the CM are willing to act in an advisory role.

I really need to go with my son. His autistic condition won't allow me to be very "hands off". It wouldn't be fair to the other scouts/leaders in his troop if I didn't come along to help. I wish I had the personal time to be both an ASM for my son and ACM for my Cubs, but I can't.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.