eagle90

Your DE is an idiot (Where have I heard that before?) Your job is to bring Scouting to as many boys in your area as you can. And you are doing a great job at it. Keep it up. Your DE should take some hints from you and get to work!

$50,000? That must include a nice salary for the Scoutmaster! LOL Seriously, we are in an upper middle class suburb and could never even think of raising that much money in a year. Nor could we spend that much!

We still put them on our flag. We have over 50 years worth on there! (Shower rod rings work well!) It's fun to see the boys look through them. Last week they were putting some new ones on and said "WOW! Here's an old one from 1985! I had to point out to them some of the ones from the late '50's and their eyes kind of just glassed over!

My greatest experience so far, and also the most challenging, was serving as Scoutmaster for the 1997 Jamboree contingent. Trying to make a group of 36 virtual strangers come together as a working unit in a short period of time was mind boggling. The closing arena fireworks show and seeing an estimated 100,000 scouts and scouters holding lighted candles and repeating the Scout Oath brought tears to my eyes!

We too have some extra members on our committee. Why not try to find one thing for them to do during the year? One of ours arranghes the catering for our annual dinner, another coaches our first aid team, another arranges the site for our Pancake breakfast. Its not much, but this way they all contribute and help the troop in some small way.

We used Emerald Limo Service last year and were very impressed with their service. Yes, it was $70, but this is for about a 4 hour trip each way, with a stop for lunch. The driver was on time and professional, very personable, and did a running travelogue on the area and its sights, ecology and economy all the way down to the base. I would highly recommend them. Dale

Not to criticize anyone in particular, but I wonder if this isn't a stumbling point in our society where young men do not want to take an oath, do not want to promise anything, and do not want to hear what they are charged with doing in the future? I took the oath and heard the charge read some 43 years ago, and it must have stuck. I'm still here! To me the Eagle COH is just as much an incentive to the younger up and coming scouts as it is for the Eagle himself. And I think a little formality is good in their lives. We allow some latitude in the ceremony, but I would always include the oath and charge. Dale

GO BEARS! Dale

About 20 years ago, we spent a week on a High Adventure trip houseboating on Lake Cumberland. We had a day after our trip to "unwind" and see the local sights in the area. As we were driving thru Burnside, we stopped to see what a historical marker was, and lo and behold it was a marker celebrating the first Boy Scout troop in the country. Somewhere in our archives there is a picture of our group standing around that historical marker! Good luck to you! Dale

My story is similar to Chippewa's. Never married, no children. Also the SM of the troop of my youth. I was asked to take over the troop when I was 24 and no one else would, and here we are 30+ years later, still SM! I also wanted to give back to the program for the many benefits I received. It also gives me a group to go camping with, something I would never do on my own if not associated with Scouting. And now I find my best friends are the friends I have made through Scouting.

Looking at my District Award of Merit plaque, the loop is definitely to the top.

In our troop, we limit High Adventure trips to those scouts in high school. Even if the bases have lower age allowances, we restrict it. It makes High Adventure something to look forward to, and helps keep the older scouts involved.

We just returned from Sea Base in 2006. We took the Keys Adventure, which is an overview of all the activities available. You get a day of deep sea fishing, snorkeling, sailing, visiting Key West, and you do spend a day on Munson. We didn't want to leave Sea Base and have already registered for the 2008 lottery. I think a whole week on Munson Island would get pretty old, as it is very primitive, kind of smelly, with a lot of insects of all kinds. For a day or so, it was a great experience, but we would not have wanted a whole week of it. We flew into Miami and used Emerald Limo service to get to the base. That worked out great. There is no need for cars at the base, as anywhere you go, the base has transportation available, either by bus or van. If you need any further information, PM me! Dale

AMen, Gonzo1! Well said! Dale

All I am wanting to purchase is blank neckerchiefs. There are no trademarks of any kind on them. We have used the silk screeened design for over 20 years, and there are NO BSA logos of any kind on them. I last purchased them about 5 years ago for about $2.50 to $3.00 each. At that price it's not worth making our own and finding local seamstresses to sew them.

Our troop is in need of re-ordering our custom neckerchiefs. While we do have a local screen printer who will do the printing for us I do need to order the blank neckerchiefs (black with orange piping). I just found out our previous source is now out of business. Any suggestions as to a source? Who have you used and recommend? As usual, thanks for your help! Dale

I am not saying High Adventure trips are the only adventure our troop does. We still have 10-12 campouts per year, and have done weekend canoe trips, bike trips, with our older scouts deciding what to do and mentoring the younger scouts. But there is a time when the older scouts like to do something by themselves over and above the young scouts. And while the ten year old bike racer may be qualified, he is surely the exception. I have personally seen some adventures almost ruined when scouts who were too young or too physically immature attempt to come along with the older scouts. You need a balance of adventures for both older and younger scouts.

Fuzzy, Imust disagree with your comment about High Adventure trips (Philmont, BWCA, etc.). These activities are NOT for the purpose of "purchasing members" but is the best tool we have available for the retention of scouts. Eventually you run out of local alternatives, and summer camp becomes old hat to the scouts. They want something new and challenging. I have done over 25 Scoutmaster Conferences for Eagle, and when I ask what is their favoite Scouting memory or experience, I would say 95% of them talk about a High Adventure trip, not a weekend campout or Summer camp. Our troop has run the gamut from 12 members to 35 members and everywhere in between, and we have had a High Adventure trip every year for the past 30 years. It has kept us alive during the down years, and gives a spark every year. We have new crossovers who have seen our videos and are already saving up for when they can go on a special trip. SO please, don't bypass those High Adventure trips!

Pardon my lack of computer savvy. What are webrings? And where do you find them?

When I was in college in Michigan in the late 60's, early 70's, Mr. Ford was running for re-election to the House and was shaking hands on campus. I had on a Summer camp T-Shirt, and when it was my turn in line, I held out my hand to shake his, and he looked at the T-Shirt and held out his LEFT hand and said "It's good to see a fellow Scout". He will be missed.

Just this morning I had a rather heated discussion with our council's registrar. I have a Life Scout transferring in to our unit. He doesn't know for sure the dates of his MB's or dates of his rank advancements. I went to the office in person and asked for a printout so we can have our records up to date. Well, because of PRIVACY REASONS, she would not give me that information. I had not yet turned in the transfer since we are rechartering the end of this month and preferred to do all the paperwork in one shot. Because of that, I could not get the information I wanted. What did she think I was going to do with this information? Is it a National security problem? All I got was "We have a privacy policy" It is amazing to me how difficult the so called professionals make it for us volunteers. The less we have to do with our council office the better off we are.

There are a few things I have found that are very hard for new crossover parents to comprehend: 1. Boy Scouts are much more individualized than Cubs. That is, every boy isn't working on the same badge. In Cubs, the entire den does the Outdoorsman badge, then moves on the the Naturalist badge, etc. Whereas in Boy Scouts, the scout makes his choices and moves at his own pace. 2. Not every minute of every meeting or campout must be planned. Free time is a good thing which the boys look forward to. The few hours we give them for free time on a campout they spend exploring on their own, walking in the woods with a buddy, damming up a little creek, or just sitting in their tent reading a book. The Cub parents seem to think that there must be an organized activity every minute of the day. 3. In a boy led troop ( or one that is striving to be such) there is muich less for the adults to do. We have had new parents get a little upset that after a month in the troop we have not assigned them a job to do. Relax, survey the landscape, see how things operate for a while. Let the boys do it for themselves! Hope this helps! Dale

With all the new privacy policies we are overwhelmed with every day, we are getting some static from parents about supplying driver's license numbers to us for tour permits. Nowadays social security numbers and DL numbers are blocked in most cases to prevent identity theft, etc. We already have the name, type of car, and insurance information about the drivers. Why is the DL number necessary? How would you respond to these people other than "That's how we always do it". I tend to agree with them, it seems superfluous. Thanks for your ideas!

So what's the problem? Your son has been in Scouts 9 months, has earned 2 rather difficult merit badges, is starting a very difficult badge, has attended every campout and other activities. SOunds like he is doing great! Advancement is on an individual basis. Let him alone - the light will come on one of these days, especially when his buddies are advancing. And what is the matter with the 17 year old with a 14 year old PL? I have had many scouts attend all activities, summer camps, high adventures, and were just not interested in advancing beyond First Class and just not interested in leadership positions. So what? They are getting something out of the program, learning a lot, and enjoying themselves or they wouldn't still be there. If I were to become lost in the woods, I would rather have one of these boys with me than the 13 year old Eagle with 50 merit badges and no experience, common sense or street smarts. Relax!

We run a Rummage Sale every spring which has been very successful. We solicit donations from our families and others, and price it to sell. Clothes (especially kids), tools, toys, books, records, sporting goods, kichen stuff, etc. It helps the troop and helps the families clear out all those attics, basements, etc. And the only outlay of funds is for a few classified ads in your local paper.