Eamonn

I really don't think National needs any more money!! Why not just charge each family a "Council Fee"? Do away with popcorn and FOS! $100.00 per family per year. ($2.00 a week) Free the professional staff from having to spend so much time raising money so they can get paid!! Make Councils work within a real budget? Make Membership and Program the big and most important things. Less paper work and it would be fair to everyone. Eamonn.

FOS is a headache! In our Council the past practice has been that the SE asks the District Chairman to come up with the District Goals. We have 3 campaigns: District (members of the District Committee) Family and Community. The District Chair meets with the finance committee and sets the goals, which are sent back to the SE. Who sends them back to the District Chair asking that they be enlarged!! The District Chairman before me got so very upset over this that he had a fight with the the SE which resulted in him telling the SE where to go and with that he quit!! When I took on the job, I tried to have the goals made smaller. I tried every trick in the book. I counted the number of empty shops in the District, got the latest unemployment numbers. Found out what the average income was for people in the towns in the District. Protested that our goal was out of whack with Districts bigger than us. Needless to say it all fell on deaf ears!! Then just o prove me wrong we went ahead and exceeded the darn goals. My goal was to really build up the community campaign. We were very fortunate in having a wonderful community campaign chairman. The DE did work very closely with him, providing reports and helping organize the kick off luncheon. I took care of doing the tail twisting for the District Campaign, this wasn't hard just a matter of handing out the cards and telling everyone that "Eamonn Expects Everyman To Do His Duty" or something like that. This left the Family FOS. While the District Finance Chair coordinated this, it really was left to the District Committee. If someone was going to attend a B&G Banquet, he or she got to do the presentation, a lot of times the UC volunteered to do the presentation (Some UC's were asked not ever to do a presentation!!) The one person who was never asked or allowed to do a FOS presentation was the DE. It just didn't seem right. As the campaigns progressed the Key 3 tracked to see how things were going. If things didn't seem to be going well the DE along with the District Finance Chair and the District Chairman got on the phones and called anyone and everyone who had ever made a contribution, the DE did provide the list. We must have done something right we only missed making Quality District one time out of ten years. We have a new DE, new to the job, he started in January and our Community Chair stepped down. Our new Community Chair is the DE I had as DE when I was District Chair. I strongly suggest that your DE looks for a really strong Community Chair and works with him to build up a strong community campaign. District Goals are only money, they can be changed unlike membership which is set in stone. If the goals are out of whack have someone find a good argument as to why they are out of whack. Hard facts backed up with numbers, not just "People can't afford it". It more than lightly isn't go to make any difference. SE's tend to be a hard headed bunch, but who knows you might catch him on a good day? Eamonn.

We have honored several Scouter's from our District with a James E. West. Mainly old time scouter's who already have the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver. In fact the District got one for me!! I already had one and am a member of our Council Founders Circle. I don't take very kindly to any of the put downs. I know that I'm very fortunate in being able to support Scouting and the Council. I do count my blessings -There have been times when I wasn't so fortunate!! In fact there have been times when losing everything seemed to be the only option. I like the idea of the James E.West mainly because it goes into the council endowment, which when it works as it is supposed to work means that just because you get stuck with a SE who isn't a good finance guy, it isn't going to be spent on digging him out of any hole he may have dug. Scouting Magazine ran a article about how our District has done this. http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0009/d-news.html Eamonn. Scroll down the page.

While I'm sure that over-protective adults, both parents and adult leaders might be part of the slump. It however does seem to me and I don't have any numbers or reports to back this up. Tiger Cub numbers seem to have gone down since the changes that were made a few years back. We as an organization don't do that bad a job of recruiting. Here in my small town we had about 26% of the TAY in Cub Scouting. I'd go into the local Elementary school to do the boy talks in September and it seemed to me that nearly all of the boys had at one time been Cub Scouts. Sad thing was we just weren't able to keep them in the program. I'm not sure why? A big part of the problem at one time was adults who just didn't seem able to work together and get along. Even as I write this there is a local Pack, where the adults are not able to get along with the Lady who is the driving force of the Pack and they are all jumping ship to join a Pack in the next town. Maybe she is driving everyone nuts? I have been informed that we lose most of our Cub Scouts when they become Bears. I was a little surprised to hear this, I thought it would happen when they became Webelos Scouts. No one has ever given me a reason why this is happening. I tend to think that Cub Scouting is more adventurous then it used to be. But I wasn't around in the good old days -I'm basing this on my Mother-in-law being a Den Mother. While I can see her doing crafts and I know she knows 101 different crafts that can be made with old Readers Digest magazines, I don't however think taking little Lads to camp ever crossed her mind and if it had she would have ran a mile!! Without in any way trying or meaning to come of sounding sexist, I think the female Scouter's we have today are a lot more "Boy Friendly" than back when my Mother-in-law was Den Mothering. While many of us really don't like to admit it. We do have an image problem. We adults tend to see Scouts and Scouting through adult eyes. Before you post that the Scouts in the unit you serve can do COPE courses and leap tall buildings in a single bound. There are a lot of kids out there who don't like our "Goody two shoes" image. At times I get upset that we as an organization tend to market Scouting to adults and not the youth. Even on a local level most of the newspaper photos I see tend to be of a very smart uniformed Scout posing while he receives his Eagle Scout Award. - Great Stuff!! But not going to help recruit a bunch of 14 year olds. Adult leaders who lack imagination, lack outdoor skills and who fail to understand the youth they serve really can't do the job of being a youth leader. We have to get the youth in Scouting and keep him /her in Scouting for the values to really become meaningful and understood (Not that a little bit hurts!!) I'm saddened when I visit Troops who only offer Merit Badge classes week in and week out. To my way of thinking it shows that the adults just don't understand the program or the kids. Anyone can line up expert after expert and have them pass on their know how to a class of Scout aged boys. Worse still is when the boys have no say in what the Merit Badge of the week is! After sitting in school for seven hours, going to Scouts for more classes?? I'm sorry but I think I'd rather watch paint dry. Eamonn.

Thanks, I did have or know about these but was kinda hoping that maybe there was a BSA course that might save me the task of having to make my own. I know I'm a lazy little toad. Again thanks for trying. Ea.

I never seem to find what I'm looking for on the BSA site!! Does anyone know if there is a Training on line for New Unit Organizers? Come to think of it, is there one any where? Thanks. Eamonn.

We have had two Scouts selected for SEAL in the past couple of years, sadly when the pre-course tests arrived, both felt that they just were not really ready to take the course. I'm of course willing to take my share of any lack of preparations or skill training that I failed to provide. I also kinda think I was guilty of wanting them to attend more than maybe they wanted too!! I have got to meet 3 of the Scouter's who are very active in serving as Skipper for SEAL. All are very nice guys. All are very talented seamen. My main gripe is that the course is listed as a Leadership Course and while of course by the Scouts doing what they do on the course they do lead, but it does seem that the Seamanship required does overshadow the leadership training. While I have heard that one course is done on a motor boat, the other five courses are only offered on sailing boats. I did talk with a member of the National Sea Scout Committee and he was trying to see if a River Course might be offered. The Sea Scouts I have spoken to who have attended have all said that they had a great time and learned a lot, but maybe I should mention that they all belong to Ships where the Skipper is also a SEAL Skipper. This year I'm not pushing the course, none of the Scouts we have seem that interested, some think it's just too much like hard work. I still would like to see a few Scouts attend and return with the full story. Eamonn.

"Does anyone know if the Supply Division is part of the non-profit?" I'm sorry Ed I really don't know. For a number of years I did work for a large health system (Got your home town in it's name!!) The system is a non-profit organization. In fact there has been a lot of talk in the "Burgh" about them not paying taxes. The division I worked for was supposed to be for profit. Every year we failed to make a profit. Part of the reason was that a lot of the people who made the really big bucks were being paid by this part of the system. So we never really stood a chance of showing a profit. While I don't know how the BSA is set up? I'm thinking that under the heading of the BSA there are several divisions that are supposed to be for profit. While me paying the $10.00 registration fee is no great hardship. When I look at the 2006 membership report that shows 3,998,914 at ten bucks a head. I do at times wonder where the money goes? Add to that the income from Boy's Life, book sales, uniforms and so on. It really isn't chump change! It seems to me that very little of this income works its way back to the local Councils. Eamonn.

Fred, Thanks! I think that what you posted was what I was trying to say! Somehow I think this is linked to a conversation that was in another thread about trust. Back when I was a little fellow I was allowed to go to our local park, without adult supervision. But the Park Keeper (Not sure what he would be called in the US?) Knew us kids and knew where we lived. He wasn't unopposed to grabbing us by the back of the collar and frog marching us home. The local policeman walked his beat, knew the area and the people. He at times delivered his own instant justice in the form of a quick whack on the back of the head. We also had nosy neighbors, little old ladies who looked through lace curtains who couldn't wait to report any wrong doings to our parents. Of course at that time and at that place the wrong doings were just pranks, no guns or drugs. My parents came from an age where the rules were the rules and they didn't ever really question the rules. They seen some people who because of what job or position they held as just always being right. Teachers and Schoolmasters were always right, policemen and priests were always right. I didn't arrive on the planet until the mid 1950's. I was too young to be part of the Summer Of Love and the goings on of the 1960's. I was aware of what was going on. Of course by the time I attended high school, the masters were from the same generation as my parents -Rule followers and I was from a generation where we asked "Why?" It seems to me that one of the draw backs of living in this information age is that we have lost a lot of the trust that we once placed in people. We have seen what happened in the Catholic Church, Policemen in some areas caught doing some really nasty and bad stuff, the President of the USA setting a terrible example. The media has a field day with all this type of stuff. Even the BSA has been caught with some Councils telling lies about what the real membership is and using these lies to get funding that maybe they shouldn't get? A lot of the new leaders I see who join seem to join, not because they want to serve the Scouts but because they feel the need to keep an eye and look out for their kid. When I see postings of Troops who go to camp with an army of adults, I can't help thinking that having all these adults takes away from the program. Of course the parents feel the pressure of having to be there and the time it takes to be there, so when the pressure gets too much they quit and take their kid with them. A good friend of mine who did join just to keep an eye on his son (The Lad is ADD) tells me that his wife is on his back telling him that the Lad has to hurry up and get his Eagle, so he (the Dad) can hurry up and get back to doing his work around the house. Even Her Who Must Be Obeyed, at one time got fed up with my not being home and spending so much time away. She was scared and gave me the options of: Her buying a gun, Me not going away, or buying a guard-dog. I of course went for the dog!! I trust my son, but when he tells me he is going into Pittsburgh to an amusement park or ball game I do worry. He was born and raised in the "Sticks", he lacks the street smarts that a lot of the city kids have. Of course at 19 years old he is big enough and ugly enough to have to look after himself. But I still do worry. I'll admit that at times I don't understand how much things have changed. When I was a Lad, if I wanted to hang out with my pals we went some place to hang out, now he doesn't have to. He can hang out on line, play games on line, send instant messages and photos on line or on his cell phone. He really enjoyed working at summer camp. I know a big part of this was due to having more freedom and less supervision that he would have had at home. I'm guessing when and if I ever do find out some of what they got up too? I'll be shocked! (I only found out about a trip they made to Washington DC on their night off, a few weeks back!)But he tells me that he really missed being away from home for the summer, not because he missed his Daddy, but he missed being with his friends on line!! (Mainly females!!) I'm not sure if I understand the way this generation thinks? I'm not sure if this is true of every generation not understanding the next? I do hope we do find some middle ground. I'm almost sure that a group of old codgers sitting around talking about the way it once was or arguing what some English Lord said or done 100 years ago is not the answer. I worry that if we don't try and understand the kids we serve we will end up not serving any. If this means that we need to change? I really think we the older Scouter's need to be willing to change. We know that the values we stress are good and are needed and will be needed in the days to come, if bending a little is what is needed to keep the youth in Scouting, we have to bend. Making long lists of rules and harping on about the way it once was is not the answer. In fact at the end of the day I feel it will really scare the youth away. Eamonn.

While I can look up why people are in and what crimes they have been convicted of, most of the time I don't bother (Unless they are giving me a hard time!) From the conversation I had with this inmate I got the impression that he had been involved with drugs as a small time dealer. (Big dealers do Federal time). I was looking at a guy a couple of weeks back that had six social security numbers! Some of the nick names can be very interesting! Ea.

OldGreyEagle Thanks. You as ever are of course right. I need to watch more daytime TV? Ea

I never have looked at the uniform as really being what to wear for activities. Sure the shorts, socks, belt and a t-shirt is about all we need for most everyday Scouting activities. As long as the full uniform didn't get too silly, I was OK with it and wearing it. My big gripe has always been the cost. When I got up on my high horse and complained, some people tried to explain to me that the cost was because not only was the uniform made in the USA, but it was also Union Made in the USA. Some time back there was a lot of media coverage about companies who were using overseas workers to make goods and the workers were working in terrible working conditions for very low wages. I remember all the fuss there was when a line of clothing endorsed by Katy Lee was found to have been made by young kids who were being exploited. While I still moaned and complained about the cost of our uniforms, I was happy knowing that they were made by union workers here in the USA. While some people don't like Unions, over the years there has been a close relationship with trade unions and the BSA. Many of the people who volunteer as Scouters do belong to a union. I seem to remember that on my last visit to Heritage Scout Reservation (Owned and operated by Greater Pittsburgh Scout Council) I nearly tripped over a in the ground sign that stated a union had donated a building. A number of Unions have over the years supported Scouting at both the National and local level. Somehow I just don't see the guys in China doing the same thing! Sure in the short term someone is going to bring in a few extra bucks, but as the economy in China and places like China grows the costs of goods will increase and we will not only have to pay the extra, but will along the way have lost the support of a good many people here at home. At the end of the day we the volunteers are between a rock and a hard place. We of course want to set the right example to the youth we serve, but if the Scout Shop is the only place to buy uniforms and they only sell garments that are made by non-union workers? What do we do? I really do hope that who ever is in charge of making the contract for the manufacturing of these clothes has made sure that the people who make them are working in good working conditions and are not being exploited. Can you imagine the headlines if (And I say IF!) it came to light that Boy Scout Uniforms were being made by kids of ten or eleven years old working in sweat-shops? I think this is a big mistake and we need to return to having uniforms made here in the USA by union workers. Eamonn.

I don't live in Philadelphia, in fact I don't visit Philadelphia very often; maybe a couple of times a year. Working for the PA Department of Corrections, it seems to me that I deal with, what seems to me to be a lot of young (Under 30) African-American men from the Philadelphia area. While most claim to not belong to gangs. I'm not sure if they would admit if they did. A good many are where they are because of their involvement in illegal drug activity. I was talking with a young man this past weekend. He is from Philadelphia, he has a history of past drug crimes and is in this time for illegal possession of a firearm. While of course he is just one person and what he said was just his opinion. He informs me that because the police are doing a much better job in Philadelphia, that there just isn't any money in drugs anymore. He gave up selling drugs and started selling hotdogs!! If what he says is true he can make about $1,000 a day as a street vendor selling hotdogs, t-shirts and bootlegged movie DVD's. He claims he was only carrying his gun to protect himself from the "Corner Boys" (Small time drug dealers who sell drugs on the street corners.) Who are having such a hard time selling drugs, due to the more active and better policing that they need the cash. He said that he did buy the street vendors license and the police seemed willing to turn a blind eye to the bootlegged movies (Some even bought movies from him!!) I know for a fact that the Philadelphia City Police and the Pennsylvania State Police have lately teamed up on the war on drugs. While things are getting a lot better, it's going to take some time till there is any real noticeable improvements. Some of these young men have been involved in drug selling since they were nine or ten years old. They became accustomed to having the large amounts of money that drugs brought in and being with the people who do this sort of thing. I would hope that rather than spend time and effort fighting with the city council about a building that the local Scout Council would work with every available resource to try and bring more and more Scout units into the neighborhoods where Scouts and Scouting could really make a difference. I know it will be one heck of a task and at times it will seem like an uphill battle. The crime rate in Philadelphia didn't go up overnight and fixing it is going to take some time. We as an organization are not going to save the day, but I'm sure we could do a lot to keep some of the kids in Philadelphia from a life of crime. Meanwhile my hat is off to the Philadelphia City Police and the Pennsylvania State Police for doing what they are doing. Who knows? Maybe the Philly Cheese Steak will save the day? Eamonn

I'm 100% for making meetings as relaxed and friendly as is possible. Still not having a record of who said they were going to do what? Just seems daffy. Having an agenda does help move the meeting along, having someone keep notes and share them with the other members of the committee just seems like a good idea. I suppose a lot depends on how much the committee is involved and undertakes? Ea.(This message has been edited by Eamonn)

In our Council we have an outstanding young man. A really super Lad. He is one of my son's best friends. He is about the same age 19 or 20. Both have been very heavily involved with the OA. I think both have served as Section Secretaries. The young man has worked on Camp Staff, mainly in the Scoutcraft Area,he is a great public speaker, an Eagle Scout. He is a really nice person to be with and have around. I'm sure given time one day he will make a great SM. He was at our home with OJ. He said that he had dropped out of college and was now selling some product on the Internet?? He hadn't told his parents and as he was living at the home of a Scouter who lived near the college he dropped out of, they didn't know. The subject of Wood Badge came up. He said he was thinking of attending this year. He has already taken the other training's and is eligible. Of course I asked him why he wanted to attend? He really didn't seem that sure why he wanted to attend other than the fact it had to do with Scouting and he enjoys Scouting. It seemed to me that more than wanting to take the course and come home and use what he might get from the course, he wanted to attend the course in order to say that he had been and he wanted the WB beads as another trophy to add to his collection. I suggested that he wait a while. At least until he had found a way to sort out what he wanted to do with his life!! Selling on the Internet might not really be the best career move in the long run. Not telling or talking to his parents, seemed to me to be a red flag. But just attending to say that he went?? Just seemed a little silly. Lee, only you know why you want to attend. The rules and all that kind of stuff say that you can. I however strongly suggest that you wait. Find out a little more about yourself. Find out if you really want to be involved as an adult leader? Get some life lessons under your belt. Our Lodge gave a member a full "Campership" to attend the course. Sadly the person they selected was entirely the wrong person, in fact a couple of weeks after the course he was arrested for a DUI!! I talked with the other members of his Patrol (a good mix of male and female and age groups) and they all said that he was just too young to really understand the course. While maybe a new Cub Scouting coming into the program, might want to rush into Wood Badge, I think you might want to hold off for a while, go out and have some fun, finish school, help out where and when you can and when you have sowed all them wild oats, then might be a good time to think about where you want to serve and what you want to do. If don't know this, you really can't have your own vision and mission and with out a vision and mission writing a worthwhile ticket where you put what you have got from the course just isn't going to happen. Eamonn.

I think Allegheny Council became part of French Creek Council? For the past 25 years I have been a long way from home serving in Westmoreland Fayette Council (Greensburg area). I really like SW-PA. Coming from the "Smoke" (London, England) to live in a small town 45 mins from Pittsburgh took a little getting used to. I still dislike the cold winters we have. For some time we have been thinking of buying a home in the Southern part of the US. But as of right now these plans are on hold. Have to admit that the idea of RV-ing doesn't appeal to me. I like my home comforts and being in my own back yard. But if it's your cup of tea? More power to you. Eamonn.

Not trying to hijack the thread. But for some reason I'm not able to start a new thread or spin off!! Kinda like NeilLup, I have along the way picked up a lot of these knots. In fact it's got to the stage that there are just way too many and wearing all of them would somehow make me look even more silly than I am!! Up until now I have been of the opinion that it really should be up to the individual if he or she opts to wear these or not and how many the want to wear. I'm now starting to think that maybe a set number of no more than whatever a set number that National can come up with seems like a better idea (Like is supposed to be worn on the adult Sea Scouter Uniform.) While I'm proud of the service I have provided and the training's I have taken, I'd be happy to select the Knots that are the most meaningful to me and limit the number to just that number (Which is what I have opted to do on the new shirt I've just ordered) I was overjoyed when I was selected to receive the District Award of Merit, but do I really need to wear that and a Silver Beaver knot? I haven't been involved with Cub Scouting for a long time, things have changed so me wearing the knots from Cub Scouting seems a little silly. I do wear a four-bead Wood Badge and I'm very proud of it, but I'd be happy if we all just wore the two beads. In some ways I think I was just in the right place at the right time and knew the right people and this had a lot to do with my selection as a WB Staff member and CD. I know I have never refused any award that I have earned or been selected for. Back when I was our Council Training Chair. I made a big thing of making sure that all of the adults who were eligible for awards did receive them and at times used the knots as a carrot to spur people on to take the training's. I just recently found out that a very dear friend of mine is going to receive a Silver Buffalo this year. I don't think I'm supposed to know!! But I don't think I could be more happy unless it was me getting the award!! This fellow is a great Scouter, who does know what I might call "Hands on Scouting", He has done a wonderful job serving our Council,Region and sits on a National Committee. But I think he never in a million years thought he'd end up with this award!! So while part of me would be OK if we got rid of all these awards, when I see someone like this getting one? I do see the good in them. Eamonn.

In the area I serve we have a good number of Freemasons who are active in Scouting. They serve in many different areas, but to the best of my knowledge they do this on their own with no active support or goals set by the lodge. At one time nearly all of our Commissioner Staff were involved in the Freemasons. It might be different in different areas? Eamonn.

Bob White, The examples you give are all valid. But I'll bet for every example you give someone can give one on the opposite side. We like it or not do have to place our trust in others. I trust some people because of the position they hold. I hope that who ever appointed them has done their job in ensuring that they are the right person for the job. When I go out for dinner I trust that the food has been prepared in a clean and sanitary kitchen and the food is not contaminated. I trust that the guy who works on my car is doing his job and is only charging me for the work that has been done. The list goes on and on. Of course we try and safeguard as much as we can. But at the end of the day we end up trusting that someone somewhere has done what they were supposed to do. When our trust has been violated or misused we feel hurt and let down. While I didn't buy any of the toys that were found to contain lead based paint, I did feel that the toy companies were at fault for not doing enough to ensure that the toys were safe. Does this mean that when the time comes for me to start buying toys again, that I'm never going to buy one? No of course it doesn't, but will I check to see where it was made? You bet I will. Ea.

We just returned from our Big Long Walk. This time of the year the Robins are out in almost full force. Seen a few crows, doves,starlings and a couple of Turkey Hawks. Rory chased the local Ring-neck Pheasant and Friday caught a field mouse. We seen evidence of deer and rabbits in the form of their droppings, we also came across a dead groundhog and a few chipmunks -still alive!!(Didn't see any last year) While the way that has been outlined is not the way that I'd go about doing it. -I prefer to make it more of an outside activity and have used different ways of trying to make it a little more interesting (Taking photos or looking for something that is a little more rare that I know is there -Like our local fox!) I can't say that I see anything wrong about what is being asked from the Scouts. Not wanting to split hairs! But there are times when the evidence of the animal is not the Lad seeing the animal. During the winter I often see Rabbit tracks in the snow and rabbit droppings with no sign of a rabbit in sight, the same can be true of deer. This being the case the Lad hasn't seen the animal so "why they think they saw what they saw." When they didn't see it might be questionable? To my way of thinking the requirement is about making the Scouts aware about local wild life and what is going on around them more than an exercise in looking things up in books -Which isn't a bad thing. Still at the end of the day having a form works for the Troop I see no real harm. I'm just not sold on the idea that one size fits all. Kinda goes back to making the program fit the boy and not the boy fitting in the program. Eamonn.

Anne I can't help but think that as a brand new UC this assignment is a little unfair. That is to say if I were the District Commissioner, I don't think I would have assigned it to a new person. But maybe that's just me? While of course having a positive attitude is a good thing. I think it's important that you remember that units can only be saved if the people in the unit want them to be saved. If the unit does fold. Please don't beat yourself up because it did fold. As I see it. You can assess and report the situation. (Which I think you have done.) The District Key 3 needs to follow up. The DE needs to meet with the CO. If the CO really doesn't care about the unit or what happens? What is the point of trying to save the unit? If the CO does want to do everything (or maybe something?) to save the unit then the District Chairman needs to go to work. Maybe sending in the Membership Committee to help with recruiting and rebuilding the unit. Your role is not to recruit!! You can point the unit members to the resources and open doors, but once you start becoming a member of the unit, you have crossed the line. Remember you are not a member of the unit you are the UC. Ea.

Maybe I need to get a life? But I was discussing this thread at work the other day!! I tend to be a trusting sort of fellow. I tend to agree with what Beavah and jblake47 have posted. Without wishing to seem unfair. I do know what the "Book" says. If all of our adult leaders were really selected and hand picked by whoever does the selecting. (CO? Committee? Executive Board?) There might be more of a background of trust. Of course in the real world, in a lot of cases we know that just about any warm body is allowed to fill a position that needs filled. I'm not sure if trust is the right word? I think maybe we hope that people will do what they say they are going to do -Trusting that they will until they prove us right or wrong. Had a situation pop up the other week. A husband and wife team, who had done a really great job working as Cub-scouter's moved to a Troop. This left the Pack without a Cubmaster. The pack is one of the bigger Packs in our area with about 70 Cub Scouts. The CO is listed as being a Mother's Club. It is real!! Bad thing is that the "Mother's" are all now in their 80's. They still want the Pack to do well and continue, but don't really know what is going on. A meeting was held and two people (another husband and wife team) volunteered and were selected (They were the only volunteers!!) The next day both the DE and myself received phone calls from the outgoing Cubmasters wife. She was very unhappy about the new leadership. It seems in the past there have been issues between these people. On the phone this Lady went on to me about how these people are not trained and are never going to get trained along with some past "Sins"! She very clearly doesn't trust this new leadership team. Trying to be as diplomatic as I could be?? I very nicely let her know that like it or not the District played no part in who was selected to be the new Cubmaster and the role of the District was to offer help and support. The District doesn't have any way of knowing what people will do or won't do. Also in as nice a way as I could I told her that it was time she let go of the Pack and worked with the Troop. As to "Do we(as Scouters) trust that other Scouters are trying to do their best? I think we do. I'm not sure if we (We being the CO or whoever they are supposed to be serving.)do as good a job of holding them accountable as maybe we could do? Eamonn.

I missed going to midnight Mass this year. I had to go into work on Easter Sunday. So I attended Mass in the jail. The priest who said the Mass is from the next small town from where I live. The town has a very large Polish community. Every Sunday they have a Mass which is said in Polish. While I don't know the Priest well, we do know each other to say hello and that sort of thing. He is a nice fellow. I'd never been to a Mass in jail before. It was a little strange being at a Mass where there were no women and all the inmates were wearing their brown uniforms. I did offer up a prayer hoping that for the guys who were there it was the start of a new life. After the service we provided coffee and cookies for everyone. This might not seem like a big deal to people on the "Outside" but for the inmates it was a real treat. I was really taken by the number of them who came up and thanked me. Of course I did mention to the priest that it was about time that his church started a Scouting unit!! Eamonn.

acco40 No I don't!! However some people have been known to use galvanized metal containers that can be harmful. Care should be taken with worn enameled (Chipped) pans, some of these that come from Asia use metals that are harmful when the enamel isn't covering metal. At home when I cook Corned beef I as a rule don't do very much while boiling it, but when it's cooked do glaze it with a honey, mustard and brown sugar glaze. - This could be done is a DO. When I first joined this forum there was at that time a very long thread about cooking wine. A lot of the points that have come up in this thread were brought up then. I enjoy adult beverages. There are some really good American beers. Last Monday was Saint Patrick's Day. Her Who Must Be Obeyed and myself, drove into Pittsburgh to the Mellon Arena to see Celtic Woman. The cost of a domestic draft beer was $8.75, so we settled for a couple of bottles of domestic bottled water at only $3.00 each. - Spending $6.00 on water hurt!! Eamonn.

No in my book means NO!! The addition of beer to a meat that has been cured or brined is not going to make a difference to the meat. It might add something to anything else cooked in the broth. (Cabbage? Potatoes?) But I kinda think the salt in the meat will override the taste of two cans of beer. You might want to wash the meat in cold water. Place it in a nontoxic container and cover it with the beer. Leave it in the refrigerator (Covered) for 3-4 days. Add a few cloves of garlic, chopped onion, a few bay leaves, peppercorns, juniper berries and some chopped celery and carrot. Turning the meat once or twice each day. When the time comes drain the meat place in a zip-lock bag take to camp and cook it. Any flavor that the beer would have imparted to the meat will be in it and the rule will still not have been violated. Here in SW PA, while some county parks/ Camp grounds do allow alcohol, State owned properties do not. Alcohol is not allowed to be taken on to Council owned camps and property. Eamonn