Eamonn

Not trying to Hijack the thread but... The posting by Packsaddle jogged my memory. Some years back we had a lock in at the church hall for our Webelos Scouts. Games, Pizza, and movies. All went well, the last little fellows finally fell asleep at about 1:00 AM. About 3:00 AM, a little Lad woke me up to tell me he was going to be sick. I marched him to the bathroom. All of a sudden the Great Scoutmaster in the sky must have looked down and said "Hey take a look at yourself." The Boy was wearing his under-ware and a T-shirt and I was dressed the same way. Here I was with a little fellow in the bathroom. I left him for a moment and woke one of the other leaders. I have to admit that YP was not the first thing that I thought of. That was the well being of the boy. But when I thought about it, I had put myself in a very silly situation. I have learned from my mistakes and hope by mentioning it here that you will not allow yourself to be in that situation. Eamonn.

Errare humanum est Even Bobwhites have been known to do it. Eamonn

There seems to be a lot of ideas floating around in this thread. While I can walk and chew gum at the same time, I am easily confused. I do not think the amount of time that you have been in Scouting or held a position is any reflection on how good a leader you are. There are a lot of old time, long time leaders that I know, that have been running something that they call a Scout Program, but while some of what they offer looks like a BSA program, that is as far as it goes. These are most often the people who argue that the Methods of Scouting are just guide lines. I am also of the opinion that Title or position should not be used as an indication of knowledge. There are a lot of District and Council Commissioners who hold that position because they are good at managing a Commissioner Staff, they might have not been great unit leaders. The guy who will take over as District Chairman, from me is not a program type. He will I hope give leadership to the District Committee. While I have wore the Scoutmaster hat for a number of years, it took me a number of years to grow into and understand the true meaning of the Methods of Scouting. It could be that I'm a slow learner? I have in previous postings explained that I misused the PLC. I had these PL's and the SPL carrying out my ideas and my agenda. Even though the troop looked good from the outside (Membership, Advancement, activities, uniform.) I wasn't really following the program. Still with all those failings I never ever in 11 years had a Patrol turn up for a camp-out with only one Patrol member. As it never happened I am unable to say what I would have done. My big problem is that I can't ever see it happening. During my time as a Scoutmaster in the UK, boys left the pack when they reached 101/2 or 11 years old. There was no Den crossing over. This of course did mean that we had mixed age Patrols. It worked because we made it work. The early training in Scout skills was very much in the hands of the Patrol Leader. Some Patrol Leaders were far better at teaching skills then others. One complaint that I heard a lot was that the older boys didn't want to keep doing stuff with the younger Scouts. We also seemed to have Scouts that came from a lot of different schools which made planning activities very difficult. Life was a little easier because the Scouting program only went to age 16. After that the Scouts moved on to the Venture Unit. I really like the idea of the New Scout Patrol, with the Boys taking turns being the Patrol Leader and them all working with a experienced adult. If these Lads are friends to start with, this makes the transition from the pack to the troop a lot easier. I am also very big on having the Scouting Skills that are learned and taught on the way to First Class, being very well done. These skills are used so much all through the program. I hate and have seen Scouts hang back because they are embarrassed that they can't do a simple scouting skill. The Venturing Patrol, will keep the older Lads in Scouting if we the adults listen to them and act on what they want to do. Again this really does give an experienced ASM something worth while to sink his or her teeth into. As it seems that selling the idea of the troop camp-out to the same old, same old is harder to sell to them and these are the Lads who may have part time jobs or obligations for school (More so than our younger Scouts.) They are the group that are more lightly to not show up for the activity. Also if there are only a few of them they are better qualified to manage the work load of camping without a full complement of other Patrol members. I am all for Patrols that are comprised of Lads who are about the same age and share similar interests. I like to think that I'm an easy going flexible sort of fellow. While the goal should be that we do everything we can to keep the little Lad that joins the troop and becomes a member of the Raven Patrol, a Raven till the day he turns 18 and joins the Venture Crew. Sad to say things come up: Scouts leave and it might be that there are not enough Ravens left to continue being a viable patrol. There may be a need to have a reshuffle. When and if this happens we need to ensure that the ex-Ravens go to a Patrol that they want to join and that wants them. If this means that there will be one Patrol with six and one Patrol with eight. So be it. The Patrol is the most important unit in Scouting. I will stand by my ideal Patrol Size of six as it really does offer more Scouts the opportunity to be a leader, which also helps with offering him the opportunity for personal development. When I was young Scoutmaster, I thought that the Patrol was there for my benefit. It was a nice size for administration and seemed like a good fit for me. As I grew wiser and got a few more white hairs I seen that this team was not there for my benefit. In fact I was there for their benefit. I think the most important position in Scouting is the unit Leader and when I visit a troop, the best Scoutmasters are those who are allowing the SPL to run the show. The SPL leading the Patrol Leaders and they in turn are leading the Patrols.I don't know too many Scouts who have the skills to lead a group of nine or ten other Scouts. We don't seem to be allowing or pushing the idea of Patrol Camp-outs. I wish we would do more to really allow the Patrol to camp as a Patrol. Again I'm a little unsure if a big group is such a good idea. Anything over 8 would seem too large. As for the argument that we break up Patrols for Jamborees and Provisional Troops. I disagree. When a Lad joins a Jamboree Troop he is joining a new troop. The patrols are just as important. The Patrol Leaders and the SPL are still elected. The PLC, still meets. Each Patrol is the Scouts Patrol. He is a member, he has ownership. They as a Patrol have goals. We the adults are aware that while they will only be a member of that Troop for a short while, that we have to allow them to go through the stages of team development. We hope that by the time the event comes along or the camp ends that they have become an effective team. I know Scouts who attended the 2001 National Jamboree that will still say that the Patrol they were in was the best or greatest. This differs greatly from sticking a Lad in the Patrol for a weekend. By doing this you are hurting the team development of the Patrol that you have stuck him in. The Patrol as a method is something that most other youth organizations do not offer. It is, to my way of thinking the thing that sets us apart from other youth organizations. The idea that a small group elects their own leader, who represents them at a meeting where they decide what the group is going to do, is such a great idea, that I don't think we want to mess with. If a Patrol isn't working the Scoutmaster has the job of training the Patrol Leader and supporting him so that the Patrol does work. Along the way the Patrol Leader learns about leadership. Great Leaders know the people that they are leading. They use this knowledge to get the job done or the goal reached the idea of sticking an outsider into a Patrol is a very bad one. We do have to start thinking that the Patrol is the most important unit in a troop. The Scoutmaster really only has one job and that is training the Patrol Leaders. As ever we come back to: Train them, Trust them, Let them Lead. (But let them lead the Patrol, not any one that they don't really know.) Eamonn.

When I started this thread, I didn't know that the change to the Tiger Cub uniform was coming.I welcome the change. We as a district did manage to implement: The Assistant District Commissioner Tiger Cubs. The Lady we selected used to be a Den Leader in the pack when I was Cubmaster, she is the person who seemed to always get too present the Tiger Cub Den Leader training at the specific training's. She is visiting all the Tiger Dens and offering advise as needed. The Den Leaders and Cubmasters can call on her if they run into any problems with the Tiger Den. While she does have a beautiful smile she can be very bulldog like, once she sinks her teeth into something she holds on to it. An added bonus is that her visiting is exposing everyone to someone from the district and in some cases she has woken up some lazy or sleeping Unit Commissioners. Working with the people from the training team they organized and ran a Tiger Fun Day. This served as a fun afternoon for the Tiger Cubs, but it also acted as an orientation for the Den Leaders and the parents. As yet the Council has not done any of the things that we talked about, I think that they might be hanging back to see how well things work out for us. I did notice that we had a few more than is the norm. Tiger Den Leaders at the Essentials course we offered a couple of weeks back. All in all I'm very pleased with the steps we have taken and have high hopes that we will see a higher retention rate because of it. Many Thanks for your help. Eamonn.

Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas - If you don't believe me Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant! Eamonn

While I can't give an exact time. The App goes to National.People have been on Summer vacation and are now returning to a backlog of these apps. Depending on what position you have said that you would like. Many of these then go on to the Regional Office. The guys in the Regions have been up to their eyeballs in Cub Scout recruiting. Some of these apps then go to the person in charge of that activity or area. He or she looks at them and decides if the person fits the requirements that need filled. They send it back to the region. If I were Hops, I would phone the Council Service Center and ask if they can find out what has happened. I think 8 - 10 weeks should be about the time for all this to happen. Eamonn

I can only echo what has already been posted. At times asking someone to step down can be a very difficult task. You have your reasons for wanting the person to step down. If you think that money is missing or that the job is not being done right. The person should be forced out. My way of thinking is that this should happen as quickly as is possible. To "Force him to step down". Has a nasty ring to it. Before I would take such a step,I would have to think long and hard on it. Then I would have a chat with the COR. If the main reason you want to see the back of this person is that you just don't get on with him or he is a pain in the neck to work with. Do remember that along with the Scoutmaster you are under the microscope. How you live up to the Scout Oath and Law should be beyond reproach. There have been times when I have been upset with people not doing things the way that I have wanted them done. Or they have failed to do something completely!!When I have got over my being mad or my being upset. I can look at what I have done. In most cases I find that I'm to blame. I failed to train the person. I wasn't clear in what I wanted or when I wanted something done. There have been times when I have allowed history to cloud my judgment. Then of course there have been times when something has happened on a day when I was not at my best. I was in a bad mood. Before you go forcing someone out. Take a little time and examine how you are feeling. Eamonn. PS: Welcome back boleta. I missed seeing your happy and smiling face. It is great to see you back.

Yes. Eamonn

I have never allowed a Scout to sleep alone in a tent. While I never took the time to look up a reason in the G2SS. My thinking is very much in line with Bob White. Which I feel sure is a big surprise to everyone. If there happened to be an odd number we put 3 in a tent. While I'm a big boy now, and have camped a lot. Other than a bad back I don't know of any illnesses that I have. I'm not afraid of the dark or boogie men. I do have to admit to not liking sleeping in a tent by alone. There are times when I'm expected too. Still I like the idea that if something should go wrong, that my buddy is there with me and for me. A trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night, when it's dark and there are the sounds of the night can be very un-nerving for a little Lad. If he is in a tent alone he will be tempted to make the trip alone - What has happened to the buddy system then? Sure we can all sit by our key boards and say that the Scoutmaster at Wood Badge sleeps in his own tent. Or the guys who work at Philmont do this or that. Or that a co-ed Crew with only one female youth member will have no choice. But as a general everyday rule, I would much sooner see three Lads share a tent than have one fellow all on his lonesome. Aren't all the best jokes shared in the tent late at night when the little fellows think we old fellows are sawing logs? To miss out on that is to subject a Scout to cruel and unreasonable treatment!!! Eamonn.

At times we the adults tend to look at The Patrol as a Team or Group that is there for our benefit. Sure it it a good size for administration purposes, great when it comes to games. But it really isn't there to make life easy for the adults. If we start off with a patrol made up of friends, Lads who like each other. They will over time become a very efficient,effective team. Every time we mess with this we are messing with the development of this team. We do need to work on building up Patrol Pride. A few days back I posted that the Patrol / Critter thing at Wood Badge was not important to the Wood Badge course. Having given this a little thought I now think that I was wrong. I still think that what the names are and the order in which they are come in the song is of little or no importance. However If we as adults can take so much pride in belonging to a Wood Badge Patrol, the take home message has got to be "Let's Do This With Our Troop Back Home." If we accept that our Scouts will have times when there will be doing other activities, which we must accept. We as adults must really look at what being a Patrol Member is really all about. I have to disagree with Mike F and Bob White, 10 is far to big. I think 6 - 8 is the ideal size. Hikes with more then 8 Scouts don't work. I tend to think that most Lads of Scout age don't have 9 or 10 close friends. Cooking meals for more then 6 or 8 becomes a real chore. Patrol meetings are difficult to manage if the group is over-sized. Everything we do as leaders should be done to strengthen the patrol. We teach and train our Patrol Leaders, we support them and act as a safety net. I don't think a young Scout is ready to lead a group of ten Scouts. Having said all that if there were a group of ten Webelos Scouts that had crossed over as a den and they were all friends I wouldn't break them up. We do what is in the best interest of the Scout. If there were 12 I would go for two patrols. Most of the troops in the district that I'm in only have about 22 - 30 Scouts. Very few have more than 36. Large patrols wouldn't offer very many Scouts the chance to benefit from the training that the Scoutmaster does with the Patrol leaders. As for not having enough Patrol Members to do stuff.The big question is as Bob points out "Why". If only a few Lads are turning up,it would seem that the problem is out there and needs to be found and fixed. If everything was ideal and working as it should be. I would say that the patrol of six Scouts that are friends would be the best possible size for a Scout Patrol. Still we should do what is in the best interests of the Scout. The Patrol is a method of Scouting. It isn't there for the good of the adults, it is there for the Scouts. If we could instill in our Scouts the same amount of Patrol pride as the adults that attend Wood Badge seem to come away with, it would be wonderful. Eamonn. Have just seen the "Campout only Patrol" Please, please never ever, ever in a million years allow that to happen. Mixing Patrols will undo everything that we are trying to do. I' sorry Double Eagle, but you hit on a sore spot. My way of thinking is that the Patrol is the Patrol and nothing ever should break up a Patrol. If the camp-out has been planned correctly, the information has been communicated correctly. I think that a Patrol that only has two or three show up should camp as a patrol and the SM, the SPL along with the Patrol leader need to meet (I would have this meeting ASAP after the camp-out) to see what went wrong. It could be that nothing went wrong. OJ, is the SPL in his troop. The Troop were attending the District Fall Camporee, this weekend. His School soccer team made it to the play offs. He didn't know this when the Annual plan was made. So he was unable to be there, add to this that we had family who called on Wednesday to say that they would be here on Saturday. There was no way that he was going to make it. So there are the rare occasions when things crop up but these are rare. Camp-out only Patrols and mixing patrols for games should be avoided at all costs.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

Our Council does not permit Cub Scouts to camp from Oct till May. I worry that taking Cub Scouts away when it can be cold will turn them against camping for ever. If the boys in your pack are as poor as you say they are I very much doubt if they can afford the equipment for camping if the night should turn chilly. The sleeping bag with the Power Rangers, Big Bird or whoever is OK for sleepovers at a pals house but are useless for damp and cold nights. Pack and Webelos Scouts Camps should not be run when there is a risk of cold nights. Here it PA. It went down to the mid 30's last night. We have already had a couple of good frosts. I agree with the ruling of our Council. Wait until it gets warm before taking Cub Scouts away to camp overnight. Eamonn.

As far as the District not helping goes. Ask the Cubmaster for a copy of the Council Calender. This should list the dates of when training's are being run in your district and in other districts near by. This information might be on the Council Web Site. You might also want to mention to the Cubmaster how you are feeling and ask him or her for help and advise. While the material that you are presenting may seem kind of dry. You need to find ways of presenting it to the boys in a fun way. Rather then meeting twice a week which will be too much for many boys and many parents. Use that time to plan fun meetings. Ask yourself how can I get this information across in a fun and interesting way? Can I turn that Food Pyramid into a game? What would happen if I had two pyramids cut up like a jigsaw and made it into a relay race? Plan your meetings so that there are times for the boys to be boisterous and let of steam and energy but then follow that with a time when there is a quite activity. Look at the more active pins and do a little bit from them requirements to help break things up. Use your parents. They can work with their boy on pins like the Traveler. Try and look at the meeting through the eyes of the boys in the den. Ask yourself "How would I like to do this?" If the answer is that you wouldn't then think about making it fun. Scouting is a game. Sure it is a game with a purpose. But if it isn't fun the boys will walk away from it and the purpose will be lost. Eamonn

Hi Robert, Welcome to the forums. Have to admit to finding your post a little hard to follow. Most of the time packs have a hard time finding willing parents to step up to the plate. To have people who both want to step up is a position that I know many Pack Committees would love to have to face. A couple of things come to my mind: What position were you asked to take on when you were selected to be a leader? I during my term as a Cubmaster never ever signed on a leader as an Assistant Den Leader. Only because a Assistant Den Leader didn't receive the program pages that are in the middle of Scouting Magazine. I have been out of the day to day running of Cub Scouting for a number of years. However back in the day.... With the Tiger Cub Den, there was one Den Leader. He or she worked with the Adult Partners of the Tiger Cubs. These Adult Partners took the responsibility of running the activity for a month of Den meetings.As I say I have been out of this program for a while, still I wonder if the Code of Conduct exercise might be a little too advanced for this age group? Especially this early in the year? While I am pleased that you are going ahead and getting the training's.There is such a thing as the "Training High". Very often those coming back from training want to change the world. Which at times is a good thing. They do however need to slow down a little, and not try to change everything all at once. I would hope that everyone involved in the pack is doing their best to help the Cub Scouts do their best. At times there are a few rough edges, which over times can be fixed, to go in and try to change things all at once can rub people up the wrong way and can cause them to quit the program. We end up with rough edges and a big hole. While you will do what is for the best. Best for your Son, best for you and best for the pack. If I were in your shoes I would slow down a little and enjoy being the Adult Partner to my son through the Tiger Cub program. Working with him, the other Tiger Cubs and their Adult Partners, will prove to be very rewarding and working along side these other adults will pay dividends for the pack in the years to come, as they too like you will get bitten by the Scouting Bug. Eamonn

I agree with the wise and wonderful answers that have been posted re: YP and the G2SS. Looking at the "Feel like a cop" Unc. Makes some very good and valid points. While I was District Commissioner, some people looked on me as "The Enforcer". Some people were a little scared of me!! I did try to go out of my way to be a Friend and offer friendly advise. If I saw the shirt with a flock of Quality Unit patches. I choose not to say anything. I might include a friendly reminder in the Newsletter without mentioning any names. I have done that about Tour permits, Money Earning Apps.If someone was doing or had done something that was really dumb, I would pop in and have a word.Telling them what they had done was really dumb and inform them that I would be going to the next level to tell them that this must never happen again. The next level was in most cases the Pack Or Troop Committee. If someone kept on doing what ever it was that I had deemed as being dumb (My deeming was based on breaking of rules or polices clearly laid down by the BSA, or the Law) I would become upset. My feels would be hurt and for them to continue doing or carry on doing what I had explained was wrong, amounted to them rubbing my nose in it!! Life has taught me that people you never upset are the bartender, your wife, and the District Commissioner!! In this case I would go to the Chartering Organization or the Scout Executive. As a rule we would have discussed the problem at a key3 meeting. Eamonn.

Beave, The guy is right out of college. But he is an Eagle Scout and he informed us that his parents had been members of the key3 in his district. We have for as long as anyone can remember always seen the DE in uniform at Round-table meetings. When I was District Commissioner I didn't ask anyone to wear the uniform as we were the only people at the meeting. I know that not wearing one last night was a big mistake on his part and I will mention it to him. Eamonn.

Please believe me when I say that I'm trying to keep an open mind and be Mr Nice Guy. We have the new DE. 13 Days on the job. We don't get a new Field Director till November 1st. He has told me that no one in the office is telling him what to do. So I can understand that he is a little lost and over whelmed. I have had lunch with him just the two of us. I went over how I saw the lay of the land. Who the movers and grovers were in the district. I outlined some goals that I have. I paid for lunch. We have had one key3 meeting at my house. It went well. We looked at the sign up clean up how to recruit the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts that we still need to be Quality District. Looked at who would do what for the popcorn pick up. Talked about the training that was coming up. In fact we got a lot done. I explained how my system of 30 day goals work. He is living in the Campmaster building while he is buying a house. The only phone number he has given me is his cell which is still an out of state number, as yet he only has the BSA, E-mail address. I have been setting up meetings with the FOS Captains, and doing a lot of busy work. Before the training, last Saturday I said it was a uniform dress code. He wore a shirt, which had the old red and white community strip and non BSA pants. I wasn't happy. I didn't mention the patch but did mention the BSA pants. I said that he was far luckier then most of the volunteers as he got his at cost. Tonight we had a Round-table meeting. It was a busy meeting. We had a cake and the final good bye to the out going DE. The Council is giving each unit Troop master software. But the leader had to sign for it in blood. There were announcements and the plea for more Cub Scouts. He turned up in a dark suit. He looked like an out of work undertaker. We did introduce him and I had the District Commissioner say lots of nice things. When the split came Boy Scouter's were doing Hikes and Cub Scouter's were making noise. I walked the old DE to her car. She asked me "What's with the suit?" Of course I had no answer. I returned to the building and a very active Cubmaster asked me"Why doesn't he wear a uniform?" Some of those present had been at training, so I couldn't lie and say that it wasn't unpacked yet. As we were leaving I thought that I really should say something. So I, in a very nice way said " Hey _____ you really should wear a uniform to this meeting." I went on to say that he didn't need to wear one to the District meeting and he should check with the District Commissioner as to find out if they wore uniforms or not" He informed me that he doesn't like wearing a uniform. It doesn't happen very often but I was speechless. There were still other volunteers leaving and I didn't want to draw attention to him and I. So I didn't say anything more. I know now that was not what I should have done. I really ought to have tried to put him straight there and then. I am not going to go to his boss and "Tattle". I'm not going to wait till the Field Director comes and hope that he tells him what the dress code for what is. I will have to find the right time and place and tell him. Still I have to say that I'm very disappointed that we have hired a DE that doesn't like to wear the uniform. Of course it's just my luck to get one. Eamonn.

I have to agree about the ten stitches to the inch and the buttonhole stitch. I caught Her Who Must be Obeyed only using nine to the inch and using a running stitch. As you can imagine I was shocked in fact I was flabbergasted!! I can't remember when flabber was so gasted. I remembered that a Scout is Brave. So I said "Oh love of my life, my sweetest, you need ten stitches to the inch and you know the buttonhole stitch would work so much better." You know there is a knack to how the hospital staff make them beds. (Sorry Voyageur something came over me) Eamonn. Come to think of it. Which Rank Patch goes on a pocket?(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

I enjoy a good campfire. In the early days of my Scoutmastership!! I was also a Service Team member at one of the UK National Campsites. This was very much like being a Campmaster. People who came thought that because it was a National Site, that we would do a better job at things like Camp Fires. I went and took the Camp Fire Leaders course that Gilwell Park offered at that time. Leading a campfire for the campers at the site proved to be a lot easier then trying to get my bunch to sing. Skits have never been as big in the UK as they are over here. But once our lot found that they were funny they really got into it. As time past and the troop grew, I never gave up on the idea. I was still on the Service Team and there was nearly always a couple of patrols from the 17th in camp when I was there. Somehow and not by my doing they got the idea that there was something elitist about being good at camp fires. If ever anyone was silly enough to ask them if they wanted to sing a song, they always picked "Found A Peanut" They could add several hundred extra verses!! There was no stopping them. On hikes it was Lloyd George Knew My Father to the tune of Onward Christan Solders or On illkey Moor By Tat. Eamonn (Off To Round table,)

There was a time when I thought that WHEELER was FOG. I was wrong he was at least two other people. There was a time when I thought that Jason was WHEELER. I was wrong, he was at least three other people. I have been informed that WHEELER is now posting on another site and he is quoting me.Does this make him a wise man? Or me the wiser because he quotes me? Hang on to that thought, while I get on my bike and search out a wise old Abbot. While I'm gone feel free to discuss Scouts and Scouting. Eamonn

Thanks for all the help and the encouragement. I admit that when it comes to new units I am a born optimist. While I have not seen a list that names the Exec. Board of this theater, the town is less then 5,000. So I feel sure that I have to know at least half of the members. The story of how it came to be is a nice one. People talk about the good old days when the town was buzzing with activity. Then along came the malls and some really bad town planning. The stores on the high street closed and the new ones that came didn't last very long. In fact there isn't many stores left. Both the small mini-markets are gone.We are blessed to have an old time hardware store, which some how manages to have everything. We did have a store that sold quilting supplies, but they moved to the museum. The theater had set empty for many years. It had at one time been changed into a cinema. Her That Must Be Obeyed, remembers going to see movies there and seems to recall that the last movie shown before it closed was "Whats Up Doc?" With Barbara Streisand, and Ryan O'Neil. It looked sad sitting next to the closed down Chinese Restaurant and Vic's Flicks, the video rental store that is still trying to sell Memberships. Our local bank is owned by a family. The mother was a real character. A chain smoker, Rye Whiskey drinking little lady who was involved every where and in everything. She was in the Garden Club, the Women in business. organist in her church and bell ringer in an other. Her son's were lucky to have my Mother-In-law as their Den Mother and my Father-In-law as their Scoutmaster. I don't know how it came about but this Lady got a bug and decided that the theater needed to be saved. There were all sorts of meetings and it seemed that everybody had a different idea as to what role the theater would play in the community. There was a burst of enthusiasm pigeon were slaughtered by the hundred. Pigeon lovers united and complained. Money was raised. I even bought a seat. Then the seats were changed and seat buyers were up in arms. At last there was a show. I didn't attend as party that was after the show was to in my restaurant. We filled the restaurant to overflowing. Rye whiskey was flowing as were all sorts of adult beverages. The bill was growing at a great speed, but there was no end in sight. At 2:30 AM, we closed leaving on a few members of my staff and the Bank Lady. She had not been without a glass or a cigarette all night. She looked everyday of her eighty odd years. She pulled out her check book. I handed her the bill, thinking that she would have a heart attack. She asked me if it included the gratuity? I said that I had added 15%, she told me to change it to twenty. She wrote the check and on her way out she stopped to give all the wait staff a tip. Into each of their hands she pressed a folded $100.00 bill. Sad to say she passed away a couple of years back. She was one heck of a Lady. She had more money then she could ever spend. But my Mother-In-law remembers when her kids went out to play that they had patches on their jeans. I would love to see this Crew take off, as maybe my part in thanking her for being a game old bird -One that I really liked. Eamonn.

We have a theater in town that has expressed interest in chartering a Venture Crew. Our DE is new, with only two weeks on the job. I have said that I will take him along with me when I make a presentation to the Theater Board Of Directors next week. I kinda think that he thinks that I know what I'm doing!! I have all the "Big Stuff" down pat. The Venturing Oath, age groups, methods and that good stuff. I know that there are a few pages in the Venturing Leader Manual, that cover theater type activities. I really would like to baffle these guys with brilliance, and letting this young whipper-snapper of a DE, see the "Master at work" (He says chocking on his coffee!!) Wouldn't hurt. Do you know of any other material that is out there that deals with Theater Crews? A web site of one that is up and running would be great. I will talk to the guys at national and see what they have. But anything that I could use as a handout would really fit the bill. Thanks. Eamonn I do like the idea of having a band of up and coming thespians in the district.

Believe me there have been times when Her That Must Be Obeyed has called me things a lot worse then a dork. Sad to report there have been times when she has been right. Eamonn.

Hi Mike, Welcome to the forum. If you want to discuss the Jambo, there are a number of people who post here attending and they would love to chat, discuss and debate it with you here. I will be returning for my second Jamboree as Scoutmaster. I think the Jamboree Committee from our council think that maybe I'll get it right this time. Our council has a lot of people going as staff members. In fact my 16 year old son is working the bikeathon. We are all from the NE-region. Our Jamboree Troop number is 412. I am the good looking guy with sexy knees or so Her That Must Be Obeyed, used to tell me. Again Welcome and feel free to chirp up at any time. Eamonn.

Well, cor blimey mate 'hats a bit or right. Them Brussels sprouts will a honky dory to tell their china plates when they get back to their mickey mouse, them garden gates ain't ever Adam and eve they gone got in dolly mixtures yeah the titfer for tats butchers hook robin hood Translation: Well Lord Blind me friend, thats very good. The Boy Scouts will have a story to tell their mates when they get back to their house, their mates will never believe they went and got in pictures. Yes the hats look good. Of course a true cockney only uses half of the two words that rhyme. Eamonn Of course for the Scouting scholars: Non curo Si metrum non habet,est poema Vinse saltare? Viam Latam Fungosam scio.

BadenP, While I agree with most of what you have posted. In our area the volunteers do seem to out last the SE. We do have a turn over of adults in Cub Scouting, but nearly all of our troops seem to have guys who are "Lifers" - With no time off for good behavior!! The SE serves at the pleasure of the Executive Board. In fact we did dismiss the SE we had before the one we now have. It did cause a lot of ill feeling in the council. It didn't help that we also let the Field Director go at the same time. Even though the Council President at the time was /is an attorney, there were threats of law suits. We would have lost the one against the Field Director, as only the Scout Executive can by rights fire him. The Council was put on probation. While the Assistant Scout Executive did take care of the day to day running of the Council, one of the Regional Directors was in charge until we appointed a new Scout Executive. I was on the board at the time and while there was a few people slapping each other on the back, most of us were worried about where these two (Scout Executive and Field Director) would go and what they would do, not because of fear of law suits, but just because we cared. As it all worked out the FD went back to the Council where he came from in a better position with more money. He was there for a couple of years and everything seemed to fall apart. His wife left him and he quit working for the BSA. The Scout Exec. Was from Texas and he did get a job in the National Office. What was really strange was, when I went to Philmont for a conference on Commissioner Service. The Professional a Scout Executive who was one of the lead presenters (A super nice guy) took one look at my CSP, smiled and asked if we had settled down yet. It is maybe too easy to blame everything that goes wrong on one person. I know that there are those who say that the buck has to stop some where? Still when things don't go right I have found that there is plenty of blame to go around and we can all take some of it. This game works best when we are all working as a team, with no them and no us. Eamonn. Heck I found myself looking for help from a FD today - Wow I was the one that couldn't wait till the one we had was gone.