FScouter

Our inspections are always unannounced. Invariably some kid will say "But it's not fair you didn't tell us first !" As if to say that uniforms need only be worn for pre-announced inspections. We give out some kind of reward such as one Hershey's kiss for each uniform part worn. Then we award the official uniform inspection patch (available at the Scout shop) to the one best uniformed kid that has the complete uniform including including belt, neckerchief, and socks.

OGE wondered why Scout shops dont offer a "patching" service. Our local shop refers people to a individual that will do that work for a fee. Some people are thrilled. Personally, it is appalling to me at the number of parents, moms included, that don't have a clue about how to work a needle and thread. I've toyed with the idea of teaching our boys how to do basic repairs such as sewing on patches, or sewing on a button. This seems like such a basic skill. I personally do all my own patches, and have taught my son how to do his. Dare I suggest there be a 1st Class requirement to "sew a button, patch, or seam"?

OGE's humiliating snipe story has brought to mind one or two incidents from my own childhood that I'd just as soon erase if I could. Kids, and consenting adults, can be very mean.

I did have a pleasant memory of a going on a snipe hunt however. The adults induced our entire group of kids to go out on the hunt. After about an hour they called us all back and after talking about it for awhile we realized that we were duped. We had fun though, talking about the adventure of looking, and of "hearing" snipes in the bushes. Some of us even "saw" some. This was fun because WE ALL DID IT TOGETHER. And because WE ALL DID IT TOGETHER, and the wise adults didn't let it go too far, there was no humiliation.

I would seriously question whether a 17 year old boy has the maturity to decide that he is homosexual. For that reason I would not initiate any process that would result in removing him from the troop for that reason.

Story about chickens and eggs,

and told her that she had such beautiful ...

Wow! I would never have believed that song would be on a web site! Truly amazing! I may even try to bang it out on the piano and write the notes. I wonder if there is software that would turn the computer keyboard into a piano ...?

Mr. Old Grey Eagle, Sir, you have absolutely made my day! Like you, I absolutely love this song. It has got to be the best dang camp song ever made. You've added some verses I never heard before and I can't wait to visit my dad and jog his memory.

I've got a different chorus, and verses that are somewhat different from yours, which I'll list below.

Chorus:

Young folks, old folks, everybody come.

Join the Darky Sunday School and have a lot of fun.

Please check your chewing gum and razors at the door,

And hear some Bible stories that you never heard before.

Adam was the first man that ever was invented.

He lived all alone and never was contented.

They made him out of mud in the days gone by,

And hung him on the fence in the sun to dry.

Along came Eve and they had a great battle.

She climbed up a tree and knocked down an apple.

She knocked down two and they each had one,

and ever since then the trouble has begun.

(Chorus)

Jonah was a fisherman so goes the Bible tale.

He shipped across the ocean on a transatlantic whale.

He didnt like his quarters, for they were none the best,

So Jonah pushed the button and the whale did the rest.

(Chorus)

Sampson was a fighter of the Bob Fitzsimmons school.

He slew the Philistines with the jawbone of a mule.

A lady barber cut his hair so runs the anecdote,

And the copper came and ran him in and got his nanny goat.

(Chorus)

Along came Noah stumbling in the dark.

He picked up a hammer and built himself an ark.

Then came the animals two by two,

the rhino, the hippo, and the kangaroo.

First came the lioness, followed by the bear.

Then came the baboon without any hair.

For forty days and forty nights they sailed the ocean pond,

Then Noah kicked the lioness out because she was a blond.

(Chorus)

David was a shepherd boy, a plucky little cuss.

Along came Goliath looking for a fuss.

But David knew he would beat him,

Or darn it he would bust.

So he picked up a hammer and he socked him on the crust.

(Chorus)

Have you ever seen it in an old Scout song book? By the way, my dad calls this song "The Darky Sunday School", which was the name he was taught.

Oh, and shave every day and you'll always look keen!

My father was a Boy Scout during the Depression. He learned a song with verses that related Bible stories. I have fond memories of my father singing this song around the campfire since I was barely old enough to walk. One verse goes something like this:

"David was a shepherd boy, a plucky little cuss.

Along came Goliath a-looking for a fuss.

But David knew he would beat him,

Or darn it he would bust.

So he picked up a hammer and he socked him on the crust."

Does anyone know any other verses to this song?

As you can see, there is no "normal" percentage or method to split.

In our troop the popcorn split has evolved:

Year 1 - The boy got all the profit, in cash. He turned in the popcorn cost and kept all the profits.

Year 2 - Boy accounts were set up. 90% of the profit went to the boy account, 10% to the troop. The boy could use his account for any Scouting related purpose.

Year 3 - The split was changed to 50/50. "Scouting purpose" was defined to mean anything that can be purchased at the Scout Shop.

Year 4 - It got to be inconvenient to disburse funds everytime a boy wanted to buy some item from the shop. He either wanted the money first, or would buy something and have no receipt to turn in. We changed the rule and now the boy account can be used only for the troop outing fee, summer camp, and for the annual re-charter fee. Personally I'd like the boy to be able to use it for any Scouting purpose, if the committee could figure out a practical way to do the bookkeeping.

Whatever you decide, I'd suggest you put it in writing and have the committee vote on it. Eisley's suggestion about the funds reverting when the boy leaves is important.

There is a woodbadge buckle in the new 2002 catalog. It's made of brass and depicts the axe-in-log logo. Item # Z02181 $13.55. Yesterday I saw a pewter Eagle patrol buckle for sale on eBay. It may still be there.

How did you prepare the acorns prior to eating them?

There is no general prohibition against using liquid fuel stoves in Scouting. The Guide to Safe Scouting has a chapter that discusses fuels and fire. It says in part "Knowledgeable adult supervision must be provided when Scouts are involved in the ... (storage, handling, filling, or lighting)... ". Obviously you have to provide the training, and use common sense. Some individual BSA camps have prohibitions on liquid fuel, usually where there is a high fire danger.

In our troop we train the new kids to use the propane stove, and when they are proficient, and advanced a rank or two, we train them to use the liquid fuel stove. Knowledge, maturity, and rank has it's perks.

In response to ScouterPaul -

Our Boy Scout troop has had issues with Popcorn and fundraising in general. We have an account set up for each boy, and part of profits goes to the boy account and the rest to the troop. All the funds are kept in the troop bank account, with a separate ledger sheet for the boy's accounts. The issue that always arises is how to make the split between the boy account and the troop account.

It was very geneous that an individual bought $1,000 worth of popcorn out of his own pocket. But that should be discouraged. Some people would believe that using their own money allows them to circumvent policy, or puts them in charge. Better to have the pack write the $1,000 check.

In any case, I would suggest that at least a portion of whatever money they raise go for general pack purposes. We can't all run our own programs.

I wanna hear more about camo pants . . .

Next week remember to remind him what a great job he did on his board of review. Positive reinforcement sometimes works wonders.

"Morally straight" can never be defined such that all will be in agreement. The Boy Scout that subscribes to the Scout Oath "... To keep myself ... morally straight" must find within his own heart what that means. The Scout book provides some guidance: "strong character", "Be clean in your speech and actions", and perhaps most importantly "The values you practice as a Scout will help you shape a life of virtue ...".

Kids know a lot about what is right and honorable. They dont need a precise definition. Adults are different.

Interesting Scouting program. From what country does it originate?

The Scout uniform is one of the most publicly recognizable and visible outward signs of the Scouting program. To the community the uniform presents a welcome image; "Here are some local kids who are doing some good things." The positive image that the uniform projects is a good thing, and we need that.

If my troop elects to wear polka dot t-shirts and purple plaid golf pants, that may or may not be appropriate attire for Scouts. But it is NOT a Scout uniform. All of the choices for Scout uniforms may be found between the pages of the Scout catalog. Until "BDU" pants are available at the Scout Shop or in the catalog, they are not part of the Scout uniform.

The whole area of taxes is a gray area. A Scoutmaster with a boy in the troop has more room to justify a deduction than an uninvolved dad with a boy in the troop. If you pay to go to summer camp as an adult leader, I would argue that the expense was necessary and reasonable to operate the Scouting program. Your personal enjoyment of going to camp is incidental.

My comment about Communion discrimination and suing was totally tongue-in-cheek. In the Methodist church we take Communion too, but the guidelines are different than in the Catholic church. I completely respect the Church's right to offer their program (Communion) in the manner in which they believe.

Outside individuals, non-members, have no "right" to force a group to alter their program. Who am I, a non-member, to question or criticize Catholic beliefs and the Catholic program?

I just have a basic problem with non-members of any organization pushing to have the organization's policies altered to suit their beliefs. Should the members of the local Dog Owners Society welcome a cat owner that hates dogs? And change their program so it doesn't discriminate against cat owners? Get real. People gather together and form organizations with missions and visions that they all agree on. People with different views form their own groups. Being tolerant of another group is one thing, but must we blend the two?

I believe the bottom line question that needs to be answered is "Would Scouting be stronger and would we build boys into better men by admitting gay leaders? Would Scouting be stronger if we admitted agnostic boys and leaders?" If the answer is "YES", then let's change the policy and welcome them with open arms.

I'm not Catholic, but attended a funeral mass recently in which members of the general public were in attendance. The priest invited the congregation to step forward and accept Communion, but clearly stated that only Catholics in good standing were permitted to do so. I felt terribly left out and humiliated that I was intentionally discriminated against. I want to sue the Church and force them to offer Communion to non-Catholics. Do you think the ACLU will take the case?

Be careful about what is claimed as a deduction. A donation the your troop may not be deductible, whereas a donation to the council should be. The difference is that your own troop is too close to home. In other words, IRS could claim that that the purpose of a donation of a tent to the troop was so that your kid would have a place to sleep. A donation should not have any trace of direct benefit to the donor. A donation to the council is too far removed from the donor to have any hint of direct benefit.

Of course we all donate anyway regardless of deductibility!

I should have said something like "interested parties". There was no intent to belittle anyone who cares enough to attend and participate in a scout committee meeting.

As eisley pointed out, it's important to understand that the committee is part of the checks and balances that assures that the program leaders (Scoutmaster, Assistant SM, Den Leaders etc.) are properly executing the Scout program. It is for that reason that they cannot be members of the committee. The program leaders are expected to keep the committee informed. The way to do that is by attending the committee meetings and reporting the doings of the troop.

I'll bet the "how to use the forum" questions are all answered by clicking on the "FAQ" button.