Eamonn

Hey Hopper, While "the prepaid variety." Might not be as cool as some of the phones that are out there, they do help avoid a lot of unpleasantness. You wouldn't believe the number of parents I know who fight with their kids about running up big phone bills. I see that some of the new phones can show movies!! Here I am buying TV's with bigger and better screens and all the time I could have gone with a 2 inch screen. I wonder what it costs to watch a 90 minute movie on your cell phone? Eamonn.

Kahuna Eamonn IMing might be more than they could manage. Trevorum Your lucky a friend of mine was telling me that his daughter ran up a $1,500 cell phone bill. As I write OJ is annoying Rory (the golden retriever) with a Christmas card that quacks Jingle Bells like a duck!! Eamonn.

Boy Oh Boy. The best bet would be to postpone the gathering until Ground Hog Day. But then again maybe not. I see that the Pennsylvania Lottery is using Punxsutawney Phil to sell scratch off tickets. So he might offend anyone with an itch. February 29th Might work if you don't invite any single females. Eamonn.

Lisabob I enjoyed reading your posting. A lot of my problem is me. I still want us to be more like a Rockwell painting than a spreadsheet. I agree that if we pay peanuts that we are going to get monkeys. The young Lad we now have in the District as DE wants to be a program guy. He wants to camp and hike and do all that sort of thing. Hey -That's fine we do that. But we do it as volunteers on our own time. His predecessor who was DE for nine years came on board late in life. Before being employed by the Boy Scouts her only real exposure to Scouting was that her son is an Eagle Scout. I was a key 3 member for most of the time she was with us. As a key 3 we looked at what her job really was and where her time would best be spent. At times I went to battle with her bosses because I seen what they were asking her to do as them taking her away from what we wanted her to do. I seen my role as District Chairman as ensuring that what we the volunteers were supposed to do was being done. Working with her, we seen the money raised from our community FOS Campaign soar. We started from the ground up several events that brought in thousands of dollars, without having to go to the unit volunteers. I don't think we need pay a DE or any professional to do the job that a volunteer does for nothing!! If no one is willing to do something, rather than farming it out to the DE we need to ask why? Sadly it's almost a fact of life that Councils need the money that Popcorn and the family FOS Campaign brings in. But we can't keep brow beating the people who are giving so much time, energy and money to support the program at the grass roots. At our board meeting on Monday everyone agreed that cutting programs was not the thing to do. We just don't seem able to agree what the programs are. I read the vision statement and see words like fun, adventure and challenge. I see this as us providing the resources for our youth members to participate in real scouting type activities. Not re-new the lease on a SE's car. But I see membership being about bring more kids into participate in the challenges, fun and excitement of Scouting, not just a Quality Council plaque or a way to take the next step up the promotion ladder. I think I see the need for most of what we do. My big problem is at times I question the motivation of why. I know that we have a lot of really good professionals who really care about the kids we serve, the families and communities that these kids come from. But even these caring people are having a tough time coming to grips with Scouting becoming more about numbers than Scouts. Eamonn.

When I was a young Lad I had several friends that didn't have a home phone. When I became a leader a few years later just about everyone had a home phone. A Lad joined the Troop and you took his name, address and phone number. The Scouts joining the Sea Scout Ship have a home phone, Cell phone, E-mail address and i seems that each member of the family has a different E-mail address and a different cell phone number. Both parents work so they have work phone numbers. I chuckle at some of the Scouts E-mail addresses. I have a Dancin_ Gumby, pawprintz,Swordsman, Scoccerstar, a starstupidboy, and a basketballbud10020. Eamonn.

I think and maybe I'm wrong that there was a time when the people who served on the Council Executive Board, were local guys who owned local businesses and knew all about Scouts, Scouting and what was going on in the area. Sadly it seems that things have changed. Small businesses moved to the mall or just aren't there anymore. Many of the people who now serve on boards or committees are building a resume. While many will donate at a high level they work for big corporations and they don't really have the authority to do very much. We have several guys on our board who are there because they work for big multinational companies who have either chosen certain charities or have certain criteria for giving. Sadly many of these guys don't really know very much about Scouting and they don't seem to be doing much to find out anything. SE's only get away with handpicking Boards if we let them. It is wrong of us to moan and groan when the volunteers are the ones at fault. Eamonn.

We had the meeting. It seemed that half the board had no idea what the heck we were talking about. They had never been to the camp. Everyone was in agreement that the last thing we should do is cut programs. I seen just about everyone nod their head when that was said. When the camp came up I said how selling the only camp we have for winter camping is cutting programs there were some very puzzled looks. (Our Summer camp is in a state park and we can't get in from November till spring thaw) There was a lot of talk about this budget and that budget and it went around and around. I got a little shall we say unhappy? (I was ready for a pint!!) It seemed very easy to me. If we weren't going to cut programs or sell off any assets. We need to get hold of some money. If we are not going to face this same thing every year we need to bring in more money. In fact the money is there in the endowment fund and we have a big fund raising event every year that would make up the shortfall, only the money from it goes into the endowment fund. When I asked if we could take the money from the endowment fund and stop putting the money from this big event into the endowment fund. I was informed that the trustees of the fund would have to OK it and they wouldn't be happy!! But happy or not that is what we are going to do. I see no reason to have an endowment fund if we don't have a Council!! Still, my point in this thread isn't about selling camps. I just think that we are getting so tied up in budgets and numbers that we seem to be forgetting that we are in the business of serving the kids in our communities. I really think that we spend too much time and too much money building wonderful and fabulous ambulances at the bottom of the cliff but we fail to see that a guard rail at the top would do a better job. And cost a heck of a lot less. I'm not in anyway carrying on any sort of vendetta, I just think that we all need to be aware of what is going on, we need to do all we can to make sure that our COR is attending the meetings and voicing his or her opinions about what is best for the youth in the organization that he or she represents. We need to ensure that the squeaky wheel isn't getting all the grease. Not letting pet projects take away from the really important stuff. Eamonn.

Semper, I will take the time I don't have right now to read your posting and get back to you. Ed As you may know we have for a long time lived in the fear that one day we would be gobbled up by the Council that you are in. Some people would rather die than see us become part of your Council. But over the past few months things have changed even the most vocal of the anti -GPC are now starting to say that maybe it's not such a bad idea. Eamonn.

I happened to join Her That Must Be Obeyed on a trip to our favorite Italian Store. They sell the best Deli-meats and a good selection of seafood. - Sorry Ed I was just too lazy to make the trip t the Strip District and we now have a Parmanti Bros Restaurant in Greensburgh. As I was going in the store, a very good friend was coming out. I was hoping that I might just get away with wishing him a Merry Christmas(Yes we are both Christians!!) I was eager to go and drool over the capicola ham. But he was upset and wanted to talk. Our Council doesn't have a Ranger or anyone paid to take care of building or maintenance. This fellow is and is looked upon as being the Head Man in that area. He is up at camp almost every weekend and over the years had lead many if not most of the projects that have improved the camp. He is very bright, very well educated holds down a very responsible job, but his great love is the camp. I have known him for over 25 years. We have met at camp a lot, gone out to eat several times and the love he has for the camp and the history of the camp shines through. Our Council is having a very rough time in the financial department. It looks like we are going to end the year about $200,000 in the hole. A task force has been meeting to see what can be done to cut costs and bring in more money. Their report is due at the Executive Board meeting to be held on Monday. I haven't seen or tried to find out what is in the report, but in true Boy Scout tradition rumors and hearsay are rampant. One big rumor is that we will sell off our other camp. I have heard this and did a little checking around. The camp isn't used a lot,needs a lot of improvements, but made $500.00 last year. A few year back we had it timbered and the timber brought in about $150,000. Right now the $500.00 is mainly due to the fact that there are gas wells on the property. The fellow I'm with is telling me that if "They" sell it, he is done!! He goes on and on about financial mismanagement, and how "They" are not providing the services that our Scouts need. After about 25 minutes of this we wish each other a Merry Christmas and he goes on his way. I join Her That Must Be Obeyed in the store. While I wasn't upset at him or about what he had said, I was upset. Upset because I think I'm one of the "They". Upset because I'm no longer sure of what I have stood for over the years. While I own up to not being a spring chicken, I'm not that old!! However it seems to me that not that very long ago Scouting wasn't as.... Shall we say Organized. The camp we are maybe thinking of selling was the fruit of two donations. I'm sure when the land was offered we didn't stop to think about the long term financial implications! It was sometime in the 1960's. I'm not sure when the word charity was replaced with Non-profit organization? I'm not even sure if they are the same thing? I do know that the tiny District I serve has a DE that earns $32,000 a year plus benefits. Trying to raise money takes up a great deal of his time and the time of a lot of volunteers. Much as I hate to say it. We could do very well without him. Sometime in the fall our FD was accused and arrested for sexually abusing a young girl. He was never seen again and we never replaced him. We at the volunteer level have not noticed any change in the level of service, now that we don't have a FD. My friend outside the Deli had mentioned that he earned about $50,000 a year. He went on to say that our SE earns almost twice that. While $100,000 a year might not seem a lot in other parts of the country around here it is almost unheard of. I suppose it's way to late to turn back the clock and return to a kinder, gentler time when we weren't as Organized. But I do think we as volunteers have got to take a stand and make sure that the people who work as professionals are worth every last cent. Eamonn.

In 14 days time, ten years of serving at the District and Council level will come to an end. I will continue to serve on the Area Committee. Sadly I seem to have lost enthusiasm, for serving at the District and Council levels. In part because I don't have the same relationship with the "New" DE. And partly because I'm just tired. I'm happy to pass the torch, it's time for new blood and fresh ideas. I've already moved on and I'm overjoyed to be back working with the really important people, our youth members. Sea Scouting is new to me, so just finding my way around is a new challenge. I'm not sure what my Scouting Christmas wish really is? I know I want to do a good job. I already see how enthusiastic the Scouts are. I don't want to let them down. The list of things the Ship wants and needs is almost endless, but it will all fall into place, it will take a little time and a lot of money. When people see that the program is worth while they will willingly give both. Some might need a little help!! I have never been able to work out if we Scouter's get the Scouts that we deserve? I'm overjoyed and happy with the Scouts that are in the Ship right now. I think my Christmas wish is that we are laying the foundation of something that is fine and good and will serve the kids in this area for a very long time.Long after I'm gone. Eamonn.

I was looking at the Scouts Canada site a few weeks back. While I might be wrong it seemed to me that they have adopted a "Non-uniform -uniform" Members can pick what they want to wear from a selection of different items. I'm not really sure how it works. In most of the other countries that I have visited the stand out item of a Scout uniform is the neckerchief. I wonder what would happen if we were to do away with all the other parts of the uniform and just use a neckerchief? We could use different colors or different wiggles or slides for rank or maybe for program. Maybe if we went with different woggles or slides we could have units choose the color, size and material. Scouts who didn't want to be seen wearing the uniform outside of meetings could just fold it up and stick it in the pocket or wherever. I'm not sure how to go about wearing Merit Badges? Maybe we could just stamp them on the neckerchief? Of course they wouldn't be Badges any more just Merit Stamps. Hey it's just an idea!! Eamonn. (Of course the Membership fee would be a lot more to cover the loss of revenue. - You can't please everyone.)

While opting to wear a Patrol or Troop uniform can be done and from what I see many Troops are already making up their own uniform standards. It would seem that some people are more than willing to give these shall we say "Free Thinkers"? A big pat on the back, while others are not so happy with the idea. OK I confess I'm not happy to see poor uniform standards. Can a unit do it and get away with it? Of course they can. They can get away with not using any of the other methods if that's what they want to do. Still I don't think this is how we teach our Scouts values and I don't think this is how the game is supposed to be played. Eamonn.

We have talked about this before in these forums. I think it's important to call people what they like to be called. If Ed wants to be called Ed that's fine. My son likes to be called OJ. He isn't mad about Oliver. Her Who Must Be Obeyed really hates anyone using her middle name. Most people call me Eamonn, but on all official type documents I like to use all 3 names. At School back home the teachers just called us by our last names. I never really liked it, but that was how it was. When I first joined Scouts a lot of the SM's used Skip short for Skipper. Now that I have joined Sea Scouting, I have started to use Skipper. Her who must be Obeyed answered the phone the other night and said that she thought they had asked for Flipper. I had that darn song stuck in my head for days!! Eamonn /Skipper.

Being left handed I don't have my mouse on that side of the screen!! But have to admit I did try !! (Don't tell Terry !!) Eamonn.

My copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America is a couple of years old. I think if you read : Article X, Section 4 Insignia,Uniforms And Badges. You will find that there are 12 Clauses. Clause 9 states that all badges and Insignia shall remain the property of the BSA and clause 12 talks about authorization, saying that the national office shall have the sole right to authorize the use of insignia. The best thing to do is get a copy of both the Charter and Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America and a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America (57-491 and 57-492) They used to cost $1.50 each and you can order them from the National Office. While I suppose any group can make up their own "Uniform". From reading the rules and regulations it seems to me (I'm not a lawyer!)That the only Official Uniform is the one you buy from the BSA or from stores that are authorized to sell BSA uniforms and that the BSA owns all the badges and insignia, so as such they can say where they can be worn. Before everyone jumps all over me !! I'm just saying what is in the book. I personally am OK with the uniform that we have now. I'm not happy with how expensive it seems to be. However I do have to say that I was very pleased when I sent a pair of shorts along with a pair of socks back to National Supply they replaced them with no hassle. I don't think that anyone will ever come up with the perfect uniform. What might be fine and dandy in Florida isn't going to be so great in Wyoming. I remember when the UK uniform went to long pants, I was a young dedicated follower of fashion and wasn't going to be seen dead in what I thought were "Drainpipe Trousers" So I went and had a tailor make me a pair that were flared. Boy did I think that I looked cool. The other night I visited the home of one of the Sea Scouts,I was putting together our uniform order. I asked the Lad what size pants he took? Like most kids he had no idea. So we asked his Mom. She said that he never wears anything that fits, she asked him to come over to where she was sitting. He was wearing a pair of jeans that didn't look very baggy, but to walk from one end of the room to the other he had to hold up his pants. He stood in front of her and she reached out and with a quick pull his pants were down around his ankles !! Still with all the buttons buttoned. He said that's how he likes to wear his pants. I explained that there would be times when he would need to use both hands to do things and he wasn't going to have a spare hand to hold up his pants. We ordered him a pair of pants that will fit. I have to smile when I remember how when I was a little Lad our school uniform at grade school was short pants (Yes even in winter) When I was 11 or 12 I wouldn't be seen dead in them old fashioned baggy pants!! I'm trying to find a place that sells dark blue shorts that are long and have cargo pockets for our Sea Scouts to wear with their working uniforms during the summer. I managed to get them long pants for only $7.50 a pair. I found chambray shirts for $7.00 each. It really hurt having to pay $3.25 for a Council Patch on a $7.00 shirt. Eamonn.

Have to admit to not being into video games. When Space Invaders came out about 100 years ago the Scouts in the Troop back home used to always win when we played. Over the years I have bought the new games and new game systems for OJ. I liked the Game Boy, but he used to moan that I was running his batteries down. He has the PS2 but doesn't have that many games. In part because I don't really understand them and I'm not keen on anything where people are shown being shot, blown up or where they have their heads chopped off. On the rare occasion when he does have a extra dollar he goes and buys pre-played games. Some are really cheap. He does enjoy them, but isn't home that much to play them. If they can come up with a game that you can play and IM your pals at the same time, I think they will be on to something. Two hours a day? I don't think he has ever sat and done any thing for 2 hours -Not even his home work!! Eamonn.

Life is strange. Being as Sea Scouts comes under Venturing, when it came to a uniform for the Ship I left it in the hands of the Scouts. They read the Sea Scout Manual and came back saying that they wanted to wear both the working uniform and the whites (Not at the same time!) I'm not sure how long the Navy has been wearing whites, but I'll bet it pre-dates Oscar de la Renta. Eamonn

I think Kudu might be right. While the Scouts couldn't wear BSA patches on whatever they opted to wear and some of us (Me!!) might not like the idea of it being called a Scout Uniform. I suppose a Troop could decide that they would all dress in similar way and not be breaking any rules. I'll have to sleep on it!! Eamonn.

Going back to the Frogs. Number one Frog seen a great looking Toad. He said to the other Frogs "Man that Toad with all them warts looks really cool. I want to look like him." Number two Frog said " I like the look of that Duck, I want to get some feathers and look just like him." Number three Frog said " It really doesn't matter if you dress up like a Duck or a Toad, you'll still both be Frogs" Number four Frog said "The only problem is going to be if you only get half the warts or half the feathers, while Ducks and Toads can attend the Frog ball, those who are only dressed in half Frog attire are not allowed in." Number one Frog became a Toad, he never dressed like a Frog again, but attended the Frog Ball every year. Number two Frog only got Duck Feathers from the waist down, keeping his Frog like appearance from the waist up. He was never allowed to attend the Frog ball. Number three Frog joined the Sea Frogs and moved to Hawaii. And number four Frog was singing at the Frog Ball when he was discovered and he went on to join the Muppets. Eamonn

He or she recognizes that for the boys in the troop in their area, the BSA uniform guidelines (not policy, BTW) I don't know where you get that they are not policy? I would direct you to Rules and Regulations, Article 4, section 4, clause 4 Try and dress it up any way you like you just do not have the right to go changing the uniform. Back home in London the speed limit in town is 30 MPH, it seems to work fine. Here in my tiny little hamlet it is 25 MPH. Do I have the right to ignore it -Of course I don't. However it seems the example you are setting is telling the Scouts is if you think it's wrong ; Just do what you like. Eamonn.

Passing the Uniform Buck on to the PLC or the Committee is a nice try!! While the Rules and Regulations of the BSA clearly state that owning and wearing a BSA uniform is not a condition of membership. It all so states that only the National Committee can change the uniform. Saying that our unit only wears from the waist up is about as silly as saying we only require Scouts to wear Scout socks!! Waist up or waist down - Is still not the uniform. The SE, the council Executive Board, the Committee, the PLC, The SM and a little Lads Mom do not have the authority to change the uniform. You might love it or hate it, but as of right now it is the uniform. It might well be out of date, but it is still the uniform. If you dislike it that much just don't wear it. Not wearing it is OK. Making changes to it is not OK and yes that means only wearing parts of it. I personally don't have a beef with the uniform. But if it were to be changed, I'm almost certain that not everyone would be happy. It can be said that the consequences for abusing the uniform are non-existent? But I really don't know how a leader worth his salt, who is charged with helping make young people make ethical decisions can stand up in front of a group of young people and tell them that he knows what the uniform policy of the BSA is and he understands it, but has chosen to ignore it and that's OK. I'm sorry I don't see it as being any more OK than telling an 18 year old that it's just a beer or smoking marijuana is OK because it's less harmful than tobacco or downloading music illegally is OK. The example we the adults set isn't just the fact that we wear the uniform, the example goes further than that. Eamonn.

Hi Barry, I had asked that our TG's sit with their patrol through all the presentations. My feeling was that if they were there they could get a feel for how each participant was doing and would be on hand to answer any questions or clear up anything that wasn't understood. This worked really well. However it did at times mean that the TG's were rushing around a bit. Nearly all the Patrol presentations took place in the Patrol site. Of course this was outdoors and there was no electricity. So power point wasn't really an option. I suppose you could use a laptop but I don't think it would work very well. We used table top flip charts. (I had light weight wooden chart holders made -they were nice -If I get time I'll send you a photo.) This of course meant that at times the TG would be seen rushing to the Patrol site, flip chart in hand, note cards at the ready. Having them carry a lot of other stuff might have difficult. We did have some little signs made that were placed around the participants neck which were used I think in the Communications Presentation. If I remember correctly they read "Sender" and "Receiver" These were not in the syllabus and are not listed in the course material list. I think having a lot of props that someone might lose, forget and have to cart might take away rather than add. But I'm a real lazy toad!! Eamonn.

Her That Must Be Obeyed tells me that I'm a big woozy. I don't own a gun, I think the likelihood of me ever owning one is zero. As far as I know other than a groundhog which I ran over with my car I have never killed anything (Not counting flies and bugs) Of course being a Brit. I wasn't raised around guns and hunting. Having said all that I have a good many friends who live to hunt. These guys are really into it. Some will fly from PA TO Texas to go on a turkey hunt. They are big time supporters of Ducks Unlimited and the Wild Turkey Federation, supporting these organizations with fairly large donations and working on conservation and habitat projects. For a good number of years I held a Wild Game Dinner and the money raised went to help local youth groups (Not just Boy Scouts) Many have really outstanding dogs who are so well trained that they make Rory seem dumb. In fact I'm thinking of sending him to be trained, but it's $900.00 and he isn't ever going to be a real gun dog -He does really well with a tennis ball and does when he feels like it obey most basic commands. I know Lads who couldn't wait till they were old enough to go hunting with their Dad.They were so proud when they got their first deer. For a while I admit that I thought I was short changing OJ; He was never going to get to go with his Dad. Of course there was no shortage of people willing to take him. But he never took the Safe Hunters course. We have two sets of three Deer that Rory and I have been keeping an eye on when we go for our walks. They seemed to have out foxed the hunters so far. Talking about Foxes, I always thought that I'd look good on a fine horse with that red jacket yelling "Tally ho" But maybe I'd be more at home at the Hunt Ball? Eamonn.

Is this patch trading?? Seems more like Patch selling to me!! There are sites that I can think of that are for selling. Eamonn.

Not sure about FAQ,but stuff I would cover in a information type booklet: (Not in any real order) 1/ The Vision and Mission statement of the BSA. Along with the Scout Oath and Law. 2/ Who pays for Scouting. How much does it cost. What money earning projects the unit does, why they are needed and where the money goes. 3/ Meeting times and locations. 4/ Dress code. What the uniform is. Where to get it and when it is to be worn. 5/ Contact information: Unit, CO, District and Council.Include phone number of Camp sites used. 6/ Health Forms. 7/Start up equipment list/ ideas. (Sleeping bag, pack and that good stuff) 8/ List of things not to be taken to Scouting events (Fireworks, guns, alcohol, cigarettes, large knives if the Council/ Unit has a policy) 9/ Parent talent survey. 10/ A brief history of the unit. 11/ Copy of the unit annual plan. 12/ Release to use photo on web site if you use one. (You might want to read the rules -I don't know that much about them.) 13/ Information about Boy's Life and the Boy Scout Handbook.( Point out the parent guide in the front of the Handbook) 14/ Unit policy on prepayment for events and refund policy. 15/ I would also add that the leaders are volunteers!! A lot of new parents with no Scouting background think we get paid. Rather than a long list of rules and regulations I would keep it very upbeat stressing the information that can be found on page one of the Boy Scout Handbook. Even with the best document in the world I would still visit the family at their home. Eamonn.