Eamonn

The young Lad who served as the 3rd ASM for the 2005 Jamboree, with your's truly will be there. He is a past Chief of Wagion Lodge 6 and is now serving as a Section Chief. A super nice fellow. Eamonn

I just toss it the laundry room. I have no idea what Her That Must Be Obeyed does after that. I have washed mine in few times in dish-washing detergent. By hand not in the dishwasher!! It seems fine. Eamonn

I admit to not knowing very much about autism. In fact I just looked it up and found: a variable developmental disorder that appears by age three and is characterized by impairment of the ability to form normal social relationships, by impairment of the ability to communicate with others, and by stereotyped behavior patterns. I do understand that it manifests in different ways. I seen something on the TV the other night that suggests that it is on the rise. I was informed many years back that the requirement for membership in Scouting was that you had to understand and accept the Scout Law and Oath. Each and every one of us who makes the Scout Oath, promises to "Do my best.." Of course I don't know this Lad and don't know what is going on in the Troop. But I can't help but think maybe he is doing his best. Maybe he is trying like heck, but this disability, which he can't help and has no control over is getting in the way. It isn't lack of Scout spirit it's the symptoms of what he is suffering from. I think we would cut a Lad with severe physical impairments a break? If as you say "He has met the requirements for the rank of Life." I fail to see why anyone would want to wait one week, one month or three months. The Lad is doing his best and just can't help what he is suffering from. I don't think we need documentation, I'm sure all the leaders know what they need to know. If the adults really feel that they are unable to manage the situation, maybe they need to help him find a Troop where the Leaders can. This might be a special needs unit? But if you all decide that you want to try your best, the main thing is that he is doing his best, which may not live up to the expectations of the Advancement chair. What is he using as a guide? Eamonn.

Can Adult Scouters wear medals earned as Scout? As ever we have what is in the book?? And what people choose to do. Does anyone remember the TV show Branded, I think it was with Chuck Connors? At the start of each episode they tore the patches off his uniform. Well that is never going to happen. We can all read the rules or guide. We can interpret it as we see fit. We can also make a choice, opting to follow it or ignore it. What someone might think is really cool, I might think is kind of silly. Of course in my effort to be "Kind" unless asked I keep my opinions to myself. I've seen adults show up for Wood Badge wearing jeans and red jackets covered in every patch from every event they have ever attended. Sure we send out a letter requesting that they wear full and correct uniform. But once they arrived we were just happy they were there. As for the B&G thing? I even as a Cubmaster seen it more of a Birthday Party than a formal Scouting occasion. But that is just my take on it. I know I have way too many knots!! In fact I have been sitting here trying to count how many!! I think it's about 16 or 18. I have a lot of uniform shirts. Some have none of the knots on. Some have a few and I think two have 15 on. These are the shirts I wore to the Jambo. I was really saddened that a James E. West knot seemed to open a lot of doors at the Jambo. But it did and I'll admit that I took full advantage of it!! I also have to admit that when traveling I don't like looking like an overgrown Boy Scout!! I don't like being seen in public wearing long socks, shorts, neckerchief and a lot of large patches. I think, but I will have to check, that on the Sea Scout uniform an adult can only wear a max of six knots. I think that I'm going to wait till I've completed Sea Badge before I add any. The other night at our Council Volunteer Recognition Dinner. I knowingly and on purpose broke the rules. Sea Scouter's in Sea Scout uniform are not supposed to wear Wood Badge beads. Our Sea Scouts were involved in the dinner, so I wore a Sea Scout uniform, but there was a Wood Badge being presented, so I choose to do a little tweak of my own. I'm all for correct and proper uniforming. But I really think at the end of the day we shouldn't get hung up on it. I know Scouter's who wear the full uniform, with knots up to their shoulder seam, who are not good at anything. I know people who are new to Scouting who bring a understanding and know how to the program who wear the shirt and jeans. I don't know why they do this? But I don't feel it's any of my business to ask. Eamonn.

BSA Inc.??? Eamonn

Gaggle? Of course they might be sorted by program area. A confusion of Cub Scouter's. A barrage of Boy Scouter's. A My space.com of Venturers? Eamonn And a "He was on deck a minute ago?" of Sea Scouter's(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

I'm having a slight problem with some of our Sea Scouts. We have an unbelievable turn out for just about everything we do. In fact for most events and meetings we run at about 100%. I try really hard to do as little as I can! OK, so I do at times when we have our quarterdeck meetings (Sea Scout type PLC) let them know what's out there and what, if they want we could do. But after that the ball is in their court. As a rule we put one person in charge of the activity and while they are in charge, I keep an eye on what is happening. Offering words of encouragement, reminders, prods and the occasional kindly kick in the pants. It really isn't that different than what I did as a District Chairman, only now it's with youth members who at times have so much going on that they don't know what they are doing. Of course this isn't the most efficient method of getting things done!! Life would be easier for me if I were to just do it all myself!! But that's not teaching anyone anything. We do set dates for when commitments are needed and at times when cash has to be in. Very often these seem to be ignored, extended and at times we end up taking people at the very last minute. This can at times cause problems with transportation, but as yet hasn't really caused a real problem. But this Summer, they decided they wanted to go Sea Kayaking in Georgia. They were all very enthusiastic. (Why is this starting to sound like a couple of well known Wood Badge presentations?) A couple arrived at the next meeting deposit in hand and gave it to the purser (Who is the person in charge of this event.) A couple waited a while and came back saying that things had come up and they couldn't go. This isn't a problem. Much as we would like everyone to attend, that really isn't realistic. But we have about half a dozen who just don't know. The dead line is next Friday. Most of the "Don't Knows" have reasons for not knowing. Some are waiting to hear if they have been accepted for other programs. One pair of brothers are waiting to see when their Mom is having her knee replaced, they are to be the stay at home nurses. But as yet she doesn't know when she will have her surgery. I think they all have good and valid reasons for not knowing. But this doesn't help with getting deposits in on time or making travel arrangements. I'm sure that as long as there are openings we can still fill open spots, but we are still left with the problem of getting them to and from. I don't like extending dead lines. I think it sends the wrong message. If there is a late fee for being late, I don't have a problem passing it on, but I don't think making up a late fee is a good idea. How do you deal with dead lines? Eamonn.

I don't spend a lot of time on the National web site. I can name our District key 3. I don't think many of our Scouts can? Even less could name the Council key 3 and I can't name the top 3 people who serve us at the National level. Strange that most know the pro but not the President or the Commish?? Looking at what is happening across the pond I see "Chief Scout going for gold at The Games " http://www.scouts.org.uk/scoutingplus/230306ChiefScout.html I can't help but think they are doing a better job of marketing Scouting than we are. Eamonn.

WOW!! The new things I learn on this site. One might go so far as to mention that some people have a flair for it! Eamonn.

I was Scoutmaster for a cluster course. Participants came from six different Councils. Much as I would have liked to attend the presentation of each and every participants Wood Badge,I knew from the start that it wasn't going to happen. After the course I returned to doing all the things that I had been doing. In fact because of the course a lot of things needed to be caught up. There really are no hard and fast rules about the presentation ceremony. My feeling is that the ceremony belongs to the person who earned the beads. Sure if someone wanted to know when I was free, I would tell them or if I was told when the ceremony was I would try and see if I could make it. But it really was no big deal if I was there or not. I happen to think that the Troop Guide plays a bigger role than the CD. But again, these people are in the same boat as you are. They have Scouting and family responsibilities. We live in the real world and it seems the more we get involved, the bigger the demands are on the time we have. If it is really important to you that the CD is there you will need to change your date. If it's not a big deal go ahead and have a great time. Eamonn. Eamonn.

With all due respect to everyone. Sure some Lads do remain in the program. Heck I have a fridge that is forever empty the work of a 17 year old Boy Scout. Most of the Lads in the Ship are multiplies. I really do like the letter SemperParatus and have saved it. But as they say in the movies "Houston, we have a problem". For the sake of this thread?? Let's put Venturering aside. Venturering and Sea Scouting can be great programs for older youth. But they are not what this thread is about. We stand up and say that we have a program for Boys aged from about ten and a half years of age that runs thru eighteen years of age. Over the past ten years, Lord knows I've suffered my way through enough over cooked chicken at B&G banquets and sat through a lot of AOL and cross over ceremonies. Looking at the numbers from the Webelos Scout Transition Reports from the past few years, it seems that in our District we "Cross Over" seventy to eighty little fellows a year. (Sadly this number is bigger than the number of Tiger Cubs that we are now recruiting -But that's another thread.) I don't have our District Boy Scout membership numbers. But we are the smallest of the four Districts in our Council. So I'd say that if we were to multiply our number of cross overs by four we would have a conservative estimate of approximately three-hundred little guys joining Troops each year. The program is supposed to run for about seven years (10 1/2 - 18) If we didn't lose a Scout and didn't recruit any?? My math has us with 300 new Boy Scouts each year for seven years. Which should mean that at the end of the day we ought to have 2,100 Boy Scouts and 300 Webelos Scouts waiting in the wings. But we don't!! We only have 1,653 Boy Scouts. The loss of 447 Scouts over seven years might not seem like a big deal (64 a year.) Of course with the decline in little fellows joining the Cub Scouts the number of cross overs will go down.( Sadly I don't think starting a program for little fellows younger than Tigers is going to help) So we are losing Boy Scouts. There is room for debate as to when we lose them. I don't have the real numbers or know where to start looking for them, to find out when these boys are leaving. I don't know how much success other Districts have recruiting Boys of Boy Scout age? Looking back to when we were trying to meet membership goals for Quality District, the District could recruit maybe 40 Boy Scouts a year. However in 2005 we needed 68 and while at the time I kept my mouth shut, I kinda knew we were beaten before we started. We didn't make it!! As a Council we spend a great deal of money on Summer Camp. Mainly because it takes a great deal of money. While there have been some improvements, Camp today really hasn't changed that much since I worked there back in 1977. We have cut back on the number of weeks and don't have as many Scouts as we used to. Cub Scout camps are now an important part of the camp (Scout Reservation??) operation. With Webelos Scout Resident Camps, having the best attendance. I'm uncertain if this surge in Webelos Scout camping is helping or hurting the Boy Scout program. Our Cub Scout camp is just down the road from our Boy Scout camp. So I don't know if it's a case of "Been there, done that, got the T-shirt!! But if a Lad attends both Webelos Scout resident camps, he will have been camping at the same place for five years by the time he is 13. A lot of the thrill and excitement of just going to camp is lost. Of course if we try and "Water Down" the Webelos Scout program, we risk losing our primary source of membership. Watering down programs is not the answer. I strongly suggest that we need to be "Beefing Up". Of course many Councils don't have the money to add what might be needed (I'll be honest and admit that I have no idea what might be needed) But if we are really going to retain our older Scouts we need to look at more Area or Regional Activity Centers that cater for older Scouts. These need to be located within easy traveling distances from where the Scouts are and affordable. We know that Troops want the programs that Sea Base and Philmont offers. We only have to look at how fast they fill all the spots. Scouts from our area would love to participate in the sorts of programs that the high adventure bases offer, but getting there is just so darn costly. At the Troop level we need to give the SM's a good swift kick in the pants!! They need to stop being "Mother Hens" and do what they should be doing!! Train Them, Trust Them, Let Them Lead. Will do more to retain the older Scouts than anything else we can do. Sadly I don't see that much Training of PLC members, without the training the older Scouts don't have the skills to be trusted and never get the opportunity to lead. They get bored and then quit. Eamonn.

The first #1 record on the Apple label in the UK was by a female Welsh singer called Mary Hopkin. She sang "Those were the days." The single (45 rpm) was released on February 21, 1969. I was a young teenager back in 1969. Pop music was very important to me. A 45 cost six shillings and sixpence or you could buy 3 for a pound. My parents didn't understand why the heck I wanted a record player with two speakers!! While I spent many happy hours playing my guitar (a cricket bat) or singing into my mike (Anything that came to hand; a pen, a banana- you name it.) The big thing to do was buy a new album and invite my friends around to listen to it and if they drooled so much the better. A big part of growing up is spending time with people who are about your own age and enjoy doing some of the same things that you enjoy doing. At times it may seem to old people that nothing is being done, but they are old and just don't get it. Scouts and Scouting has since day one given kids an opportunity to hang out with other kids and share adventures and challenges with other kids. One good thing about most of the "Traditional Activities" is that the cost spread out over time makes the activity fairly inexpensive. Some units seem to zero in on a particular activity and it becomes their thing. We have one Troop in the Council that just loves Philmont, it seems to me that they are always off to Philmont or getting ready to go. We have others that have made canoeing their thing. We have one Crew that does shooting. As a result a lot of it's members are now into dare I say it Paint-ball (not as a BSA activity) I was talking with one Lad who had his paint-ball gear in the truck of his car and he gave me the guided tour of his equipment that cost several thousand of dollars. I have taken a lot of Scouts up the mountain for skiing and snow boarding. Many belong to the ski club at school, most have fun but very few are willing to invest the money to take it up as a serious hobby. Of course there are exceptions to every rule. The other night the Ship was doing a ceremony at our Council volunteer recognition dinner, they somehow finagled a table to themselves. Eating is an activity that never goes out of style. I looked at them. They were having a good time just being together, but a couple had their I-pods and were sharing the ear-phones with other Scouts. Sure it wasn't my old record player, but food, friends and a safe place for them to be them. Things haven't changed that much!! Ride A White Swan Ride it on out like a bird in the skyway, Ride it on out like you were a bird, Fly it all out like an eagle in a sunbeam, Ride it all out like you were a bird. (Marc Bolan and T. Rex) Eamonn.

I really like the idea of the Venturing Patrol. Sadly I don't see it happening or working in the District or the Council that I'm in. I have seen all sorts of reports about when we lose members. All seem to make some sort of sense but few agree. I was at one time all for recruiting Tiger Cubs in the spring and as a District we did well with recruitment. We held Tiger Fun Days and signed up a lot of little fellows. But we didn't do a good job of getting them active. So while they remained on charters till rechartering time, the truth was come fall they were no where to be seen. I have read that we lose Cub Scouts when they are Bears, due to sports and the little guys finding that Cub Scouting isn't challenging enough. While I did find that some Wolf Den Leaders had found that being a Den Leader was too much and decided not to move on to the Bear Den, we never had a real problem with Bears calling it a day. Looking at the Webelos Scout to Boy Scout transition numbers, it seems that most years we as a District retain or cross over about 70%. Some years it might go up a little and some years down a little. I don't know how many of these little fellows remain in Scouting or how long they stay? Looking at the Troop OJ is in it seems they lose a lot after two years. So I would guess they are about 14 years old. Talking with Lads who are 15 and 16 years old, I have asked about summer camp? Many say they are not going because they have done everything that the camp has to offer and many who are going are just going because it's some where to go. Most of the Troops in the Council don't have enough older Scouts to make a Venturing Patrol work. I'm not sure if we have the adult leaders who want to even try and make it work. It seems that after 15 the Troops are happy to slap a JASM patch on these Lads and are OK with these Lads looking in at the odd meeting or camp out when they either want to or when they have the time. Which is what OJ does. Many of these Lads stick around not because of what their Troop is offering them but because they want to work at camp or they are active in the OA. Of course I could be way off base, but it seems to me that we really don't have a Boy Scout program that really caters to the 11 -18 year old group, but in the real world we are only providing a program to Boy Scouts up to the age of 15 or maybe 16 years old? Maybe this is only true in my area? I don't know. Our council is small. We have (2005 numbers) 3,223 Cub Scouts. 1,653 Boy Scouts. 250 Venturers.(These are year end totals, I don't know what the rechartering totals were) Last year we had about 1,000 Boy Scout campers at Summer Camp, this includes the out of Council Troops. We had about 350 Cub Scouts attend resident camp(not counting Day Camp and Parent and Son weekends. We offer the Venturing Crews one week at the end of the summer and last year we didn't have any Crews attend. Over the past few years our Cub Scout numbers have been falling and this will in time unless we find a way of doing a better job of recruiting show up in our Boy Scout numbers or we could try and go all out to retain older Scouts and provide a program for Lads past the age of 15 or 16. It would have to be a very long term plan. Looking at the District I'm in we have 14 Boy Scout Troops. The biggest only has 30 Scouts.Four Troops have between 20 -27 Scouts. Three have between 8-12 Scouts. Six have less than 8 Scouts. It would of course be not possible to have a Venturing Patrol in a very small Troop unless of course the Troop was dieing. Still I have to look at the money we seem willing to spend on Boy Scouts, while we at times seems to ignore the other programs. Eamonn.

My problem seems to be that most of the "MY TROOP" guys seem to think that they are doing some thing that is very grand and their additions to the program are the best thing ever. I remember getting caught by a real FCT (First Class Twit) while I was at Philmont. The guy spent half an hour telling me about his time in Vietnam and how he puts HIS Scouts through "REAL SCOUTING!!" He scared the beejeebers out of me. I was left feeling unsure if it was the BSA or Rambo Training. OJ, a few years back came home an said he wanted to change Troops. After some digging he said that all the Troop he was in did was MB work and then they just gave them away. It's really sad, while I have read that only about 5% of Scouts reach Eagle Scout rank (I've never worked out how they come up with that number??) The Troop he was in who has an outdoor program that is next to non-existent has about a 85% Eagle Scout rate. Good luck to them if they have really done what is required. But if reaching Eagle is bigger than the program I can't help thinking something is missing. Right now I have a couple of Sea Scouts who seem to be in a rush to advance. We are at odds to the real meaning of what the book says!! Sure they have some of the knowledge needed, but as yet have not used it. It's not like they will never get the opportunity to put the skills they have learned to use, they will. But they are used to doing the MB class thing in their Boy Scout Troops and are not used to the idea that demonstrate means more than just understand the theory of. We still have BOR in Sea Scouting and as we are new all the Committee is new. To ensure that we get off on the right foot I will be doing a Committee Training which will cover what I hope is the correct way for our Scouts to be reviewed. I'm a big Lad and hope that any feedback that I receive which highlights my weaknesses will help me to work on improving my performance. Eamonn.

" Walk softly and carry a big stick" I'm not sure if we do it on purpose but we seem happy to ignore or even make mention of the fact that there is a big stick. I'm almost certain that those who have the big stick even know that they have it! On paper and in all the good books we see the role of the CO, the COR and the Unit Committee. In the real world it seems in most cases and in most areas these people are not in the loop. The unit becomes "Eamonn's Ship or OGE's Troop. If the CO is lucky he or she might receive a visit from the DE once a year. His aim is to get the signature on the agreement and get the heck out of there. Maybe the Unit Commissioner will attend the odd Committee Meeting. Maybe he or she will be a wise and understanding Scouter. But maybe he or She will just be a very nice old fellow? Many of us, -Me included thought that Bob White was being pragmatic when he corrected us on the use of "My Troop" and "My unit". I now think he made a good point!! I have lost count of the number of well meaning leaders who have stuck out their chests and proceed to inform me about what they do with their Troop /Unit. I have stood there in total shock, thinking "Hey pal I don't know what you are in? But it sure isn't the same organization that I'm in!". Of course in most cases unless they cross the line and a Scout/youth gets harmed or a parent makes a big fuss, they are free to carry on doing what they have been doing. No one at the District or Council level can do very much more than try to advise, train and maybe shake their head in disbelieve. As an individual, I like to think that I'm doing my best to understand this game. I look back and see the mistakes I made 20 years ago and the mistakes I made at our last meeting , last Sunday. Every time I think I may have "Got it" the group changes, the kids change, the leaders change and maybe I change. While this doesn't necessarily require a total restart or rebuilding from the ground up, it does require a need for flexibility and a real need for constant reflection on my part of myself. At times I know that I'm way too hard on myself and take the "Blame" for things that maybe were just the way they were, because that's just the way it was. At the end of the day it has to come back to us being here to serve the youth in our programs. It isn't about my ego. The good name of the unit, tradition. It's all about serving the needs of the youth. We do this best when we the adults work toward a real understanding of the oath and law. Eamonn.

Ed, Read what gwd posted and how they are doing things. Then look at what is happening in your unit. One way is the way it ought to be and one isn't. Can you see the big difference?? Eamonn.

The Council Volunteer Recognition dinner was held this week. The Ship was asked to do the opening and closing ceremony. The Dinner Committee was chaired by Her Who Must Be Obeyed and the Advisor was /is a pro. Who is one of my best friends both in Scouting and outside of Scouting. The planning meetings were held at my house and it was at one of these meetings the Dinner Committee asked me if the Ship would do the ceremonies. I said that I didn't think it would be a problem, but I did need to check with the Quarterdeck. When it comes to food you don't need to twist the arms of our Scouts. After the dinner a number of people had comments about Sea Scouting and the feedback about the ceremony was really good. Then came the DE and the District Vice Chairman (A nice enough fellow, but after serving a year as District Commissioner, the District Nominating Committee replaced him.) They both said that the ceremony was nice and there was a few minutes of small talk. They then asked if the Ship would be attending the next Camporee? I said that we wouldn't. This led to them saying that we weren't doing anything to support the District. I was really puzzled and unsure what the heck they were talking about. So I said that I was sorry but I just didn't understand what they were talking about. They started: The Ship hadn't entered a team in the District First Aid Competition. We hadn't attended the Fall Camporee or the Klondike Derby. They got a little hot under the collar when I informed them that I hadn't even asked our Sea Scouts if they wanted to. They both seemed to get a little more upset when I explained that I thought it was better for the Ship if we didn't participate in Boy Scout events and I wanted the Sea Scouts to understand that we weren't Boy Scouts. I did my best to explain that just as Boy Scouts don't participate in the District Pinewood Derby Race. I really wanted to drive home the point that we are a separate program.I don't think they got it. In fact seeing that they were going no where with that they changed course and said that I was doing nothing to support the District. Again I asked them what they thought I ought to be doing? They said that I don't attend the District Committee meetings, Roundtable meetings and that they had not done well in the units where I used to do the FOS presentation, because I didn't support the District by signing up as a presenter. I explained that I'm no longer a member of the District Committee. The District doesn't offer a Venturering R/T and I'm far too busy with the Ship to give up any more time particularly at weekends to do FOS presentations. By now I was a little annoyed and thought it was time to really shoot back. I informed both of them that they were way out of order. In fact rather than getting on at me for not supporting the District, they in fact should be asking what they could be doing to support us. Our Ship members have visited a couple of Webelos Scout Dens to teach the little fellows knots. The Ship contacted each Boy Scout Troop and Crew and invited them to attend the Safe Boating course that the US Power Squadron was presenting. We had invited every troop to join us swimming in the local HS pool which we had booked for 4 weeks, we offered opportunities for Scouts to complete Swimming and Lifesaving merit badges. All this from a unit that isn't supporting the District. I know our SE isn't going to allow a FOS goal for 2006 that is less than we brought in in 2005 and I admit that I have cut back my donation by a big chunk. Last year when I was on the board and our financial woes came to light I upped my donation by $5,000.00 on top of what I already gave which was at the board level. I'm happy to allow the new District Chair to follow my footsteps. But I'm not on the Board and the out of pocket expense of running a new Sea Scout Ship is (By my choice) a little on the high side. Still I'm sure that my cutting back is not helping the District and isn't going to help meet the goal of Quality District. The Golf outing that a friend of mine used to hold for the District isn't happening this year. Last year the DE didn't bother to even show up, so it was down to our old DE and myself to do the work. I also got accused of hogging the local newspaper!! Sure I E-mail the local paper photos of what the Ship has been doing and use it to help recruit more Sea Scouts. As a result of the coverage we have a great deal of local support and several organizations have made donations (We have set up a Section 501©(3). )None of this has been done to cause harm to anyone only to help the Ship and the kids in our area. We have set a date for the District FOS to come in and make a presentation at our next Bridge of Honor. I really think we are pulling our weight as far as the District and Council is concerned, but my main focus is now the Ship and the Scouts that I serve. I don't wish anyone any ill. But this pair are really pushing their luck. Eamonn.

"WHY THE EXCLUSIVENESS OF SELECTION?" I'm sure Sea Scouter's who are more experienced and have more time in than I have might be able to shed more light on this. But I think space, time and skilled adult leadership have a lot to do with it. Eamonn.

Hi Ozemu, Wow you stirred up some dust in the old memory banks!! Did you ever read The Adventures of Midshipman Quinn? Or any of the Abercrombie Lewker,detective books that he wrote under the pen name Glyn carr? I don't remember ever reading Catch me a Pewit or Lion Patrol. As a little fellow, one of my hang outs was the Sands End Library on Wandsworth Bridge Road SW6. We were only allowed to take 3 books at a time! Most weeks I was there twice a week and during the winter sometimes three times a week. Mostly reading for fun. Books like the Billy Bunter and Jennings series or just what might be called good yarns for boy's. Sadly OJ doesn't like to read very much. I wonder is part of the reason is that we don't have "Spiffing good yarns" around any more? My little Sister is now working of an Australian law firm. She is based in Hong Kong, but has got to visit Australia a couple of times. She has two little ones aged 9 and 11. They are having a wonderful time. You can download recordings of BP yakking at http://www.chsscout.net/rescenter/video/index.shtml Eamonn

http://www.seascout.net/chesapeake/training/seal_training.htm Hope this helps Eamonn.

Happy Early Saint Patrick's Day! Eamonn.

PBS was showing something about Elvis. I didn't watch very much of it. It' pledge and the breaks are just way too long for me. At one point they showed a clip of Elvis saying something about how he as a kid read comic books and he was the hero of the comics in his mind. I read Two Lives Of A Hero. I lent the book to someone who never returned it. At one time in the UK (I don't know if it's still a requirement?) A Lad who wanted to be a Scout had to know a little about the history of Scouting and BP. What we covered wasn't very deep and maybe was shall we say maybe a little larger than life. Looking back I have very fond memories of telling young Lads Eamonn's take on the history of the Scout movement, in the kitchen of our Scout Hall. Back when I was a Lad weekly comics for boy's were real big. Unlike the Marvel Comics, these were printed on newsprint and cost next to nothing (Lion and Valiant are titles that come to mind) Somehow to me B-P's life seemed larger than life and might easily have been material for a comic book. By the time I hit the planet London street gangs were almost a thing of the past. Trying to imagine a time when your entire world was about the immediate area where you lived was becoming a hard thing to do. But still I remember summer vacations as a 11 -12 year old where hanging out with the local kids at the local park was almost the main event. We were very territorial and while we might allow some non-local kids in for a game of soccer (football) or cricket, very often this would end up in some sort of a fist fight. I tried hard to imagine the kids who must have waited with eager anticipation for the next installment of Scouting For Boy's. I don't know why but in my imagination they are all working class kids with dirty faces, cloth flat caps and ready to fight at the drop of a hat. These Lads are almost as much a hero to me as the great man himself. I had a very close and dear friend who remembers how when he was a kid they packed all their gear on a trek-cart and pulled it to where they were going to camp. As many of the Scouts had to work a half day on Saturday they didn't leave until about lunch time and were back in time for tea on Sunday. While I like to think what I shared with those young Lads in the kitchen 30 years ago was based on fact and I did try hard to get the dates right. Facts didn't really seem that important!! Selling them the idea that they were now part of a big and glorious adventure seemed more important. Like OGE I like to listen to the recordings of BP, watch the old movie footage. I have read a fair amount about him and his life. Some English men may have had many failings -Richard The Lion-heart, comes to mind, but many of us who grew up in England are happy and more than willing to take plenty of no notice of these failings. We are happy to allow the hero be bigger than the man. Eamonn.

I have just found out that our Boatswain's Mate has been accepted for SEAL Training. I'm sure she is going to have a fantastic time. If all goes to plan the course will be held on the Sea Scout Training Vessel (SSTV) "der PeLiKan", a 46 ft. Morgan Ketch . At present she is dating our Boatswain. He said he had to much to do this summer and didn't apply. I kinda think she is going to rub his nose in it!! Hey Barry - "I love this Scouting stuff"!! Eamonn.

Seems odd that there is no mention of a buddy!! Most Scouts I know don't carry very much of anything if they are just planning on not going anywhere. Location of the camp needs to thought about. While a Lad could walk around in circles for a very long time, in our area he would almost certainly end up at someones house or on a highway. I have not as yet read that issue of B/L Eamonn.

BSAChaplain I'm very happy for you. The SPL for NE-IV-153, the course I directed is /was a Lutheran Minister. While we did the course over two weekends I made sure that we were done on Saturday for our development weekends. I know that here in the NE-Region there have been a few courses that have been held to accommodate members of the Orthodox Jewish religion. I have never seen the course in action. A course I staffed back in 1999 did have two LDS leaders as participants. We don't have a lot of LDS members in our Council (One unit). Both these guys were really good leaders. At the end of the old Boy Scout course each Patrol got to elect a "Permanent Patrol Leader" I remember one of the two was elected PL of the Beaver Patrol. Scribe is a very tough and demanding job on this new course. So tough I had two and one other person to manage all the a/v presentations. It might be a good idea to sit down with the SM and go over with him what his expectations are. Strange thing was I choose a Lady who over the years I'd crossed swords with many times. In fact it was fairly well known that we didn't see eye to eye on hardly anything. I had seen the work that she had put in as a R/T Commissioner for the District she was in. She did an outstanding job and we became really good friends. I really like that the new course is allowing new staffers on board. Over 75% of the staff I choose were new staffers. Best of Luck with the course. Eamonn.