Eamonn

I kinda think that everyone will agree that anyone will agree that someone wearing too many hats, is never a good thing. At times we do seem to get sucked in,doing more and more. Some people have things that they really like doing and have a hard time giving up, even when they know deep down that they are doing too much. Some of us just have a hard time saying No! It can also be very difficult when it comes to "Knocking some of these hats off" people who are doing too much. We are scared that someone will get upset and we might hurt their feelings and we worry that if they get upset there will be repercussions. I at times worry that when someone asks for "some definitive guidance". What they are in fact really saying is that they want some ammo. Information that might be used to oust or cause problems for someone. Having and knowing the "Book Answer" isn't a bad thing. But if there is a problem it is far better to find the right time and place to talk it over with the person that you are having a problem with, rather than trying to beat the heck out of them with the book of rules and regulations. While you might be right? What you are trying to do can be a long way from being right. Eamonn.

"all for the SAME UNIT?" Looking at the list posted: District Commissioner. Not a unit position District Camping Chair.Not a unit position Unit Commissioner.Not a unit position. Can a District Commissioner serve as a Unit Commissioner. I'll bet with the shortage of Commissioners many do and I have never seen why they can't. Camping Chairs along with all the other Chairs (Training, Advancement, Membership and so on) are all listed as District Committee Members. The District Commissioner is not arred from holding one of these positions. Why anyone would want too? Is beyond me. As for the Unit positions? COR, and Committee Chair. Again I don't think it's a wise move, but if that's what the CO is happy with I think (I'm sure Bob White will put me right!) that a charter can go through that way. Unit Leaders are not supposed to serve as Commissioners, but COR AND CC are not unit leader positions. Ea.

I'm happy to leave this up to the individual. Heck how do we ever expect them to ever make ethical choices when we go around telling them how to dress?? Ea.

I'm happy to say that Rory and Friday are well and doing fine. We still go on our "Big Long Walks". Rory who will be four this Christmas is starting to settle down a bit. He still loves muddy puddles and eating! Rory sees the world as one big smrgsbord. Right now he is enjoying the apples that have fallen and the odd ear of corn. I tried picking blackberries, my plan was too make some unbaked pies and freeze them. But when picking became "One for me, one for Rory" there just wasn't enough berries! Friday will soon have been with us for a year. We still have no idea what breed she might be or what breeds are there? I tell her all the time that she is not my dog, as she snuck in one day while I was at work. Somehow I don't think she believes me. She sits on one side, Rory sits on the other. She has a little pink belly which she likes to have rubbed. He gets jealous and gives me his paw. She will jump up on my lap and lick my ear. I never thought that I'd like having a small dog, but I was wrong she is a really nice dog and lots of fun. We of course still miss Joe our English Setter who died last October. Her Who Must Be Obeyed really took him leaving very badly and still talks about "Her Joe" and what a great dog he was. I know that Joe was a very special fellow and that he can never be replaced, but I'm hoping that maybe another English Setter will help ease the heart break that she is feeling. In order to make this happen I contacted the Keepsake English Setter & Black Dog Rescue. We have picked out an English Setter named Ollie. http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11379403 These rescue people do a great job of ensuring that the dogs go to a good home. We filled in all sorts of application forms, had interviews and a home visit. We were finally approved!! Ollie is in foster care in Detroit, Michigan. So I have to drive there and pick him up. As yet Ollie doesn't have a middle name (Rory is Rory Robert, Friday who moved in on a Friday is Friday Louise) What ever we choose to go with can't start with a J. We already have an OJ. Any ideas are welcome. Eamonn.

Seeing all this about Who is on first reminds me about the explanation of cricket: A Foreigner will possess the essential knowledge of cricket when he fully understands the following: You have two sides: One out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out. When both sides have been in and out including the not outs, That's the end of the game. Easy when you know how! Eamonn.

I have a lot of the "Old" uniforms. I think if I were to buy the new style, I'd be tempted to start wearing it all the time. What the heck do you do with 26 (I counted them yesterday) uniform shirts if you stop wearing them? A few of the older shirts seem to have lost their shape around the collar. However since HWMBO has been sick I started using a shirt service. I have them use medium starch, this seems to fix that problem. I really don't need any new uniforms. HWMBO would be overjoyed if I got rid of a few and made room for what? I don't know. I think if I found uniforms on sale at 75% off I might find it hard to pass up. I'm really not in any rush to go out and buy any uniforms, no matter what style they are. Kinda sad that a couple of people are saying that they are thinking of moving on. I of course wish them well. But the other day someone said Scouting was like the "Hotel California" you can check out but never leave. Eamonn.

DFS? I'm trying to work out what that is. - Help! Thanks. Eamonn.

A lot will depend on how much or how little this person /organization knows about Scouting and the BSA. I'm guessing that because they have showed interest in the Venturing program that they do know something. Having said that. You would be surprised how many organizations think that "We" are going to provide the adult leadership. You might want to brush up on your reading about leader selection and the nominating committee. Be ready to provide a full list of where, when and the cost of all up coming training's. Be ready to explain how uniforming in Venturing works, same goes for advancement. Even some people with knowledge of Scouting seem to want Venturing to be a "Big Boy Scout" coed program!! Somewhere on the BSA site there is the steps that should be followed when starting a new unit. This will help answer the question "What's next?" Prep the DE, so he can answer questions about Council support. Warn him not to tell any untruths! Be ready to exolain what a Unit Commissioner is and does? If you have a person in mind who will be the UC have his /her contact information handy. Let the DE go over the agreement forms. That is his job!! Hope this is of some help! Ea.

"That community needs some male leaders to step up and be the ones who recruit some kids. It is a chicken and the egg kind of thing. A white middle class guy is just not going be as good to get things diverse. I do appreciate that we seem to be trying and to be talking a lot about this." Hi dcopel01, Welcome to the forum. I agree that the first step to trying to fix any problem is being aware that there is a problem. Us talking about it is a good thing. If nothing else it does get the little gray cells working. I'm not a great fan of how the Council I serve is going about Scoutreach. I could be way off base but it seems to me that the Scoutreach program we have in place seems more about serving the needs of the Council than serving the needs of the kids. But that's another thread. We might not like to say it out loud but money does play a big part in just about everything we do. The trick is spending it where it will do the most good and do what was needed and intended. I don't by any means pretend to have the answers. I do think that we as an organization could look at the following: 1/ Ensure that Councils hire as diverse a professional staff as is possible. It kinda makes sense to me that if we want to really understand how a member of a racial minority feels? Ask him or her. This might mean relaxing some of the entry requirements, but this was mentioned in the long term strategic plan.(Not just for minorities) 2/ Take a long hard look at how we do things and see if these ways work in the areas and with the people who live there. 3/Offer adults who are willing to work with units in these areas incentives to become leaders. Not payment but maybe free training's and reduced price uniforming? 4/ Have Councils find a way to help these units with finding and using the equipment they need to provide a program. 5/ Ensure that all new units have a strong foundation. Not just a few names on paper, but a unit that will be around for a while and pass the test of time. This will mean working very closely with community groups in the areas. Eamonn.

International Camp Staff Programs!! Be Afraid! Be Very Afraid!! You don't know what trouble you might end up in. (Now about that hot buttered English muffin?) Ea.

Kinda looks like I'm going to have to eat Humble Pie with a big serving of Brussels Sprouts -Yuck !! Eamonn.

Was it only a week or so back that two threads were closed? I personally think closed threads are a shame, they don't show us (Scouter's) in a very good light. People having different points of view is a good thing. Out and out attacks on someone? Just Stinks. Please Stop. Eamonn.

I really don't like Brussels Sprouts. I don't care how they are prepared I just don't like them. If I was the person in charge of putting a kid friendly menu together, I'm almost certain that Brussels Sprouts wouldn't be on it. Ice Cream would be on it. I do like ice cream. I'm not really that mad about pizza, I can take it or leave it, but it would be on the menu. I really dislike peanut-butter, but again a lot of kids like it, so that would be on the menu. I have only ever eaten tripe one time, I didn't care much for it. Tripe is high in protein and calcium and containing little fat and no carbohydrate. is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol. Brussels Sprouts are good source of Thiamin, Riboflavin, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium and Manganese. But I don't care, I still don't like them. More and more kids today are not reading books. We older folks might not like it or understand it. But todays kids don't have the love of books that many of us had and are far happier reading stuff on line. We older people can argue that print is just so much more handier. They will reply that it's easier to download things to their Blackberry or laptop. If our goal is to reach kids? I kinda think we will do a better job with pizza and ice cream than we might do with tripe and Brussels Sprouts. Eamonn.

Run Errands Cut Grass Shovel Snow Babysit Rake Leaves Walk Dogs Nice list. But what happens when you live in the high-rise? No grass. No Snow No leaves. No pets. Baby sitting is unpaid. Mom or Grandma is out working. Dad is in jail. Sure nice kids from nice neighborhoods can earn money this way, but I'm talking about us doing more to reach kids who don't live in the nice neighborhoods. Of course we can always do nothing and wonder why it is these young people end up selling drugs? Eamonn.

"*This topic belongs in the uniform forum. " Why? The discussion is about being thrifty not the uniform. But "Feedback is a gift" I did give some thought about moving it and decided not too. Eamonn. (Barry socks are in there if you so desire.)

I'd have to be very careful wearing a kilt. With my well known sexy knees, the paparazzi would go wild. It's better for everyone if I keep them undercover. Maybe I could become a closet kilt wearer? But then if I came out of the closet? No!! We are not going there. Eamonn.

Lets pretend... You are in the market for a new complete uniform. You arrive at the local Scout Shop. They are selling off the not new uniform. Do you: 1/ Buy the new uniform. If so why? 2/ Save the money and buy the older style uniform? What percentage would entice you to buy this one (10%? 25%? 75%?) This is just for fun. Everyone is of course free to spend their hard earned cash as they like.. Eamonn.

Oh Dear!! Something else I'm guilty of. I do have a Council strip on my Working Uniform!! Must admit to not liking it very much. Would sooner wear an ordinary everyday Field Uniform Shirt. I know the Wood Badge bead ruling, do follow it but think it's just silly. Eamonn

Progressive parents? I'm guessing that we are not talking about where they buy their car insurance? Eamonn (Who I'm told sounds like the spokes-lizard for that other not-Progressive insurance company. Can someone butter me an English muffin, please?)

I know that I have not spent the time to back up what I'm going to post. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I really am very happy to hear that we as an organization are going to do more to serve more racial minorities. I hope that this is more than just lip service and that the end result turns out to be more traditional units serving more youth. From what I have read the Hispanic population is on the rise, to ignore or not pay attention to these youth would be just plain daffy. I was visiting a jail today. I sat in the waiting room waiting for the person I was going to see. While I sat there a Hispanic family arrived they were visiting an inmate. Two very beautiful little girls, one was very young maybe 3 or 4 the other maybe 8 or 10. Mom and Grandma were also with them. I might be wrong but it seems to me that Hispanic families are very close. While of course the Hispanic men in jail are not by any means Angels. It has been my experience that even in jail they remain close to their families. Sadly this does not seem to be the case with African-American men. The percentage of African-American men that end up incarcerated is just staggering. Many have fathered multiple children to multiple woman. Many of these woman have problems with drugs and end up leaving these children in the care of elderly grandmothers. Sadly these kids are left with no male role models and no father figure and soon end up in trouble. Our local news seems to report more and more shootings in the Pittsburgh area many seem to be drug related and do involve young black men. I'm unsure who outnumbers who? Which population is bigger? I do feel that reaching the African- American youth is a far bigger challenge than reaching the Hispanic community. But with so many young men ending up dead on the streets of our cities, we have a moral obligation to do every thing we can to get into these areas and try to do what we can. A friend of mine who lives in Pittsburgh and is African-American was telling me that his son just became an Eagle Scout, the first one in that Troop. The Troop is about ten years old. He showed me photos of the Eagle Scout COH. It was clear that this Troop did have the community behind it and had a very strong foundation. It can be done, it isn't going to be easy.While I'm all for reaching the Hispanic community, I just hope we also don't forget the other racial minorities. Eamonn

I was a Venture Scout. That's what we were back then in the UK. Scouts (note not Boy Scouts. This was before they went coed.) Aged out at 16, so it was join the Venture Unit (That's what the group was called) or leave. Cub Scouts replaced Wolf Cubs. Scouts replaced Boy Scouts. Senior Scouts had long gone and Venture Scouts replaced Rovers. More than one Venture Scout was called.... Venture Scouts! (Yes sometimes even the Brits make life easy!!) From the start Venture Scouting was coed. Looking back -They really were happy days. Eamonn. (Much of that has since changed)

" There's a whole generation of older adult leaders who don't have computers, let alone know how to surf the Internet or register for a training session online." I really don't think that this marketing campaign is aimed at them. I'm still working on this BSA Brand thing? Not sure if I'm there or not yet? The other night I had the TV on in the bedroom. Charlie Rose came on PBS. I like Charlie Rose mainly because he has some very interesting guests on. That night he had Donald Keough on he was plugging the book "The Ten Commandments for Business Failure. Keough has been a long time hero of mine! Not only is he Irish, but anyone who can get away with making as big a mistake as the "New Coke" was has to be admired!! I have ordered the book. One part of it reads: ""You will fail if you quit taking risks, are inflexible, isolated, assume infallibility, play the game close to the line, dont take time to think, put all your faith in outside experts, love your bureaucracy, send mixed messages, and fear the future." I'm glad that it seems Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca is taking note. Eamonn.

Kinda looks like I was wrong!! I somehow got the impression that the "blue cracker jack" wasn't really an official uniform! I tried looking up the Sea Scout Uniform at http://www.scouting.org/media/insigniaguide/09A.aspx It wasn't there (Or at least I couldn't find it!!) But as the Sea Scout youth jumper collar insignia,is available in white cloth, No.04146; and also in black cloth, No.04147, I'm happy to admit that I was wrong. I have never seen an adult wear the blue work shirt. Not to high-jack the thread. But has anyone heard anything about a new National Sea Scout Commodore? Eamonn.

Bob White, Help me out. You post: "Keeping in mind that there are three adult uniforms and three youth uniforms." I'm having a problem with the three youth uniforms. We use the Working Uniform (with the chambray shirt) and the White Uniform. Which I think is the "Official Sea Scout Uniform" (Along the lines of the "Official Venturing" Uniform. I know some Ships wear the Blue Uniform, but I was led to believe that this was not an official uniform. Of course I'm aware that as Sea Scouts are part of Venturing this entire uniform thing is a real mess. Eamonn.

". Do you suppose that is because there is not much information available to you or because there is so much available to you?" Think maybe I'm asking the wrong questions!! Ea