epalmer84

Ketcham died in 2001- the strip is now written and drawn by his former assistants, Marcus Hamilton and Ron Ferdinand. Ed

I'm scratching my head (or something) on this one. I have no real answer, just questions... Are popups allowed for everyone? Is it one for every two Scouts or one per patrol? Are they allowed at camporees or summer camp? What about RVs? Is the wife a leader? Does the Scoutmaster's son "camp" in the popup? Ed

> Our troop will be implementing a travel policy The others have addressed your question pretty well, so now I'm going to ask one- why do you need a policy? Packs, troops and teams do not need rules, regulations, policies, guidelines or by-laws- they are already in place and documented in the various publications. If you are trying to interpret the existing policies, then that is an open ended road as folks interpret your interpretations. The only unit with by-laws is the Venturing crew, and that is mainly to create their identity and vision. Ed

Andy over at NetCommish has a good column on this: http://netcommish.com/AskAndy95.asp Ed

Yes- it is now the Tiger Cub Den Leader Award. The current progress record is at: http://www.scouting.org/forms/34169/50.pdf I'm not a Tiger Cub expert, but from "So Youre a New Tiger Cub Den Leader": Tiger Cub Den Leadership The success of a Tiger Cub den depends on active, enthusiastic families working alongside a knowledgeable, well-trained den leader. The Tiger Cub den leader plans and carries out a year-round program of activities for the Tiger Cub den and gives the program continuity. Using the concept of shared leadership, the Tiger Cub den leader works with a differen

Just as there is no "official" retirement ceremony, there is no official presentation. Keep it simple and dignified. For the record, I highly dislike the "cut the stripes" ceremony. Ed

It is up to the course director, but I would say either wear the proper Venturing uniform or borrow a Boy Scout uniform. Ed

>ingested soap residue. I've been told that camp soap won't cause diarrhea, but I cannot find any reference on it. Ed

This is kinda interesting. When I moved back home about 15 years ago We were in the process of switching from the Lions because their membership was in decline. We switched over to the Ruritans. We met at the Presbyterian church- I think we had met there since the troop was reorganized in the late 70s. I eventually became a member of the church. Our CO relationship was amiable but not really active. In the meantime, the pack had changed from the school, to the VFW, to the PTA and then to the Methodist church. I re-married a year and half ago, and we were flipping between my Presbyte

I still have my belt loops- I earned all 12, including the early version of the First Aid skill award with a red cross (can you say trademark infringement). I also have my brother's set- his First Aid has the green cross. I still remember the ping of aluminum on the floor when skill awards were handed out. Skill awards were part of the instant recognition program that came in with the Improved Scouting Program in 1972. Essentially, the first aid requirements for Tenderfoot through First Class were rolled up into the skill award and so forth. You had to earn certain skill awards for ea

In September of 1979, I became a Scoutmaster; I remember this well since it was my 21st birthday. I had been the "acting" Scoutmaster Since February or so when the previous Scoutmaster had actually left. Was I a good Scoutmaster ? I would like to think so. I delivered the program as I had learned it. We went camping every month, we had a fair advancement program and we had a lot of fun. I don't recall ever having an assistant Scoutmaster with that troop, and I can't recall who took over when I left in December 1980. I know I was a more energetic Scoutmaster than I am now, and pr

A few ramblings... According to my 1986 version of The Order of the Arrow Handbook, male Explorers could be elected to the OA. It appears this was dropped entirely for Venturing. I think female leaders could be selected to the OA in 1988 or so, just after females were allowed to be Scoutmasters. The COD that kahits mentioned is the Corps of Discovery, a nascent Venturing honor/service society. It uses a pocket flap similar to the OA flap. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/corpsofdiscovery/?yguid=305994200 A few years ago, we started an event called the Iditarod. Run in conjun

Here is the current Pack Committee Chairman emblem from ScoutStuff.org, #00380: http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/images/05NDC/images/00380.jpg I really did not realize the Cub Scout leader emblems still used the gold and silver borders. Scoutmaster used to have a silver border and assistant Scoutmaster had a gold border until the new versions with the tan backgrounds were issued. It looks like Cubmaster is the only unit leader emblem with the silver border. You might check eBay for older style emblems. The borders were used to outline leadership- silver for primary leaders

Personal opinion time: North either committed the crimes he was accused of and lied to get out of it, or he was a patsy for those who did. Either way, I find I have little respect for him, and probably less respect for those who actually pay him to spout his rhetoric. Was North a Scout? Ed

Great idea- as a disabled veteran/combat veteran I give my stamp of approval! I just wish I had thought of it first. And that our troop wore neckerchiefs. And that we had a Memorial Day parade here. Ed

All good answers. And you are not the only one who double posts. It has noting to do with the connection, as I do if from work, home and out of state. And no, you don't get credit for two posts- your number only increments by one. Ed

A good Scoutmaster: - Understands and cares about the youth - Has a commitment to deliver the program and not re-invent it - Understands that the Scoutmaster and the SPL are the troop leaders; the CO and the committee are there for administrative support - Understands that no matter what other might think, the SPL is the *real* troop leader - Is able to not only apply the program and the rules, but also be able to impart the reasoning behind both - Understands that the methods of Scouting are just that- methods, not goals - Is able to make the Scouts buy into the goals of Scoutin

If it wasn't for parents, we wouldn't have Scouts. It is always a balance. Parents have every right to participate in the program (see below), but we should also expect them to allow their sons to participate fully as well. The parents of new Scouts need to be educated to understand what they should and should not do in the program. Our troop has a parent orientation before we have a crossover- this seems to help quite a bit. If this parent is the COR and on the committee, then she definitely needs to be educated. As COR or committee, she is an administrator; the Scoutmaster is t

Boy Scouts of America Youth Application 28-406: "Venturers registered in a crew or ship prior to their 21st birthday may continue as members after their 21st birthday until the crew or ship recharters or they reach their 22nd birthday, whichever comes first." http://www.scouting.org/forms/28-406.pdf There is a subtle but distinct difference between to and through. To in this context would mean that membership would stop at age 21, through would mean that membership can continue through (past) age 21. This is one of my minor pet peeves with National. Having said that, I might b

I mulled this over a bit, but have the same opinion as Ken- this is just not right. I would not countenance this as a "fund raiser" for my unit, nor would I pay for such a service. I have to think this reflects badly for all of the units involved. I wonder who approved that Unit Money-Earning Permit Application? Especially after reading the guideline that states "is it consistent with the ideals and purposes of the Boy Scouts of America?" http://www.scouting.org/forms/34427.pdf Ed

Lets see... matches, plastic and a flashlight. Sounds like the stuff I keep in both my backpack and my daypack. Along with a first aid kit, water bottles, cordage, poncho, emergency poncho, spork, steel cup, snacks, drink mix and other goodies. As noted, this thing will work only if bought and carried. For $30 you can get a full complement of emergency equipment. If you are smart enough to carry this, you are probably smart enough to not get lost in the first place. Oh- if he is referring to the Utah Cub Scout who was lost for four days last week- then he needs to add instructio

Sounds like a good start for this young lady. This does illustrate an issue I have with how Exploring is marketed. Exploring is a program of Learning for Life, a subsidiary of the BSA. My council (kinda small as we have five professionals) just lumps Exploring in with Venturing. Also- Exploring (like Venturing/Sea Scouting) goes through age 21 (not "to" age 21 which is how all the publications show it); members are registered until their 22nd birthday or the unit charter expires, whichever comes first. Ed(This message has been edited by epalmer84)

Camp Shenandoah in Stonewall Jackson Area Council, Virginia has a central shower house for campers. It has two sections for youth with individual stalls, one for adult female and one for adult male. The showers were rebuilt just a few years ago to meet local code and National camp standards. As I understand it, National now has a standard for individual stalls. There are also showers in the Fix campsite for staff and one in the backside of the dining hall for the cook staff (and for Campmasters in the off season). I set up a cold shower by the campsite latrine, using a Coleman sho

>P.S. Does anyone else have images of Eamonn croonin' like Bing Crosby now floatin' through their heads? Nope. I see Eric Idle singing and whistling this tune from The Life of Brian while being crucified (records available in the lobby). Ed

anarchist- Normally I would agree with you on the "adult quartermaster" issue, but frankly this sounds like their system is broken. Once they have a handle on the situation, it is time for the troop quartermaster to take over with oversight from an assistant Scoutmaster. That kit on eBay is a good deal- those bitty cups are really only good as measuring cups. I have found several bits and pieces of cook kits and chef kits in yard sales for cheap. I'm always picking up camping gear at yard sales and re-selling it to some of our disadvantaged youth. Frankly, I'm of two minds on the