Fuzzy Bear

As a UC, I visited a Pack for a Uniform Inspection. I sat in the crowd next to a couple of Cub Scouts. They asked why I was there so I told them about the Inspection.

One then asked, "Are you going to check our ears?"

I said, "sure, and hands as well."

I noticed both boys pushing their hands under their legs. Boys respond to things adults tell them. We just don't expect how well and when. FB

If only the best songbirds sang,the forest would be a very quiet place. AU

Public schools have been our friends.

They have housed us, kept us warm

and out of the elements for years.

Now when they face litigation from without

I dont agree with bringing it to them from within.

They dont owe us, we owe them.

Trampling on our rights?

I am not ready to fight my friends.

They are following todays law.

so it is time for us to back off

and stand with those that

knew us when. FB

Here is my personal,(* that means that I am making something up), opinion.

A Scout goes looking to buy a car and he finds one and the sticker price is $1,000, then that is the cost. The Scout then decides to buy it, so he takes the $1,000 that his Dad gave him for mowing the lawn and pays for it. He then jumps into the old clunker and drives it away.

He later gets home and there is a brand spanking new car sitting in the driveway. His Dad has paid for all but $1,000., which the Scout has been asked to pay for since his Dad knew he had $1,000. when he left home that morning. He knows that he cant return Old Blu and he knows that once he drove it off the lot it automatically went down in value to $50.00. He is now in a fix because he no longer has $1,000. Everybody will agree that he has traded the cow for the magic beans, which is something most of us have done one or more times in our own lives.

Moral of the story: Dropping down and praying for warm weather and another shower before Winter might be a good idea.

Is there some kind of application or is this just another silly story?

Both.

A Scout willingly does a Service project for his Church.

Everyone is happy with him and his minister gives him a certificate of Merit for doing Service for his fellowman.

He goes to the Scout meeting and finds that he is required to do a Service project.

Whether he likes it or not, he has already spent his $1,000/Service at his Church and technically he needs another lawn to mow.

But then, he decides that nobody will ever know.

But

Later one of his Church/Scout buddies finds out he used his Service hours at both places.

Later he wants to use Service hours on an Educational resume.

Later his Minister is asked to vouch for him.

Later his SM is asked to give a reference.

Later, someone puts it all together.

Moral of the stories: Ones works are like a pebble thrown into a pool. Even the muck in the bottom will be affected.

I cant believe that this is even an issue.

FB

OK, I see that aint enuf, so verse 2

the singing Bear is at it again...

Court suits and Scout suits may be just the thang

Caus flyers in the schools aint allowed

But the community that hears only hollering

Dont want no crummy Scouts comin round.

Just crank up those programs

And kick out the jams

Do your service, thank you mam

Get your program out

all over town and let them know

That no school Super can keep you down.

Just make your program fun, fun, fun

One that runs and runs and

it will set you free.

FB

Let me get out my old banjo and play the same old song for you guys.

Flyers in the schools used to work.

Now, we got to find something else that works.

If I can't get flyers in the schools, then

I would make sure that each unit has

a darn good program,

For each Scout knows one other person

that

they can recruit.

If they have something worth while to bring friends to,

then

recruiting is easy.

I know, I know,

that

that is work as well

But it works.

To get them back in the park again, I suggest making kid rides using all of the old outdated monuments, such as Ole Faithful. They could put a big tub on top the old geyser and kids could sit in it until it erupts sending them way up into the sky. They would squeal with delight and people from all over the country would once again pour back into the parks to fill up all of the hotels and motels and they could build thousands more. Using snowmobiles and big wheeled vehicles to tear across the countryside is another really great idea. People love to climb rocks with their big trucks/SUV's, so this activity would bring in that bunch. They could also build a theme park to commemorate the days when people went out and looked at nature. There could be wild rides down mountainsides and through old caverns. They might even put in a race track, to attract those that love the rumble of engines or maybe a covered/domed stadium and buy a football team and call them the chipmunks. I suggest bringing the city to the country in every conceivable way. Heck, people could live there year-round. A one-percent drop per year is devastation because that means in one hundred years, nobody will want to look at the mountains and all of that kind of junk. Let's get behind this push and we can start by cutting or burning down all of the trees and then leveling the mountains to get a better view. More McDonalds and less woods! FB

Check out the Boy Scout Handbook, Tenth Edition under Star and Life Scout requirments.

Honor would be restored. If that is hollow, then Scouting has done a disservice to itself. FB

The LDS Church did not enter the BSA because there was a DRP. They entered before there existed a DRP. If it were removed, the circumstance would remain the same as the day they entered. Scouting declared the religious principle when JW changed the original Scout Law. God is represented in the Oath and the Law and people are pledging to do their duty to God based upon their personal honor. If someone refuses to do duty to their God, then they openly are refusing to be a Scout.

It is this same issue that we speak about when we argue about Scouts and Leaders cheating on badges in Troops and at summer camps. A person's honor is all that we fundamentally have and it is what defines us as an individual. Adding a declaration negates an individual's personal word of honor. To give back the DRP is to reinstitute an individual's personal worth and to give dignity to their promise. If a person needs declarations to hold to their honor, then their personal worth is in question. FB

Late one night on a high hill overlooking a beautiful camp area, the Scouts were all down for the night and I had just gone to sleep when a large and creepy storm blew in from the SW bringing with it buckets and buckets of rain, high velocity winds and loud frequent thunder. It was like being on a battlefield with bolts of booming electricity hitting all around us. As I lay face down on my increasingly wet sleeping bag with my tent being pushed forcibly down around my backsides, I remembered that underneath me was my aluminum "ground cloth". I believe I heard myself begin to pray out loud and it was then I think I might have sacrificed my wits. FB

Service:

While a First Class Scout take part in Service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These must be SM approved.

While a Star Scout take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. SM approved.

What qualifies for a Good Turn?

More than simple good manners but an extra act of kindness

FB

I realize it has been answered but I won't let this go to waste. Here is my description of the Pittilater: I still think it is spelled, Piddlelater

This is actually an Alternate to the Ancient Clean-up stand which was a four foot tripod with a horizontal bar to hold a towel and a water basin in the fork of the tripod at the 3.5 foot level. A mirror can be tied to the top with string. If a person wants to go further, tie three horizontal bars around the tripod about 2.5 off the ground and then lash a table top across the middle. A person can spread out all of their clean-up gear on it.

So,

Build a tripod using 5 foot poles, app. 2 inches in diameter with one foot of the poles extending above the lashing.

A gallon can is filled with water and set into the bracing at the top of the tripod stand. A small nail size hole is drilled into the base of the gallon water can. The release mechanism for the hole is a 3"-4"round tapered stick pushed through the hole. The stick can be pulled through until it jams, stopping the flow of water or pushed back into the can until a stream of water runs out.

The soap may be bits of soap trailings dropped into one of Moms old nylon stockings and hung below the water source. When the water runs down the stocking it dampens the soap making it usable.

Paper or cloth towels can be hung on or from one of the upper forks of the stand.

If the stand is near the latrine, then a one inch horizontal cross brace is tied to the tripod about two to three feet from the ground with ends extending past the tripod poles. This allows for toilet paper to be slipped on one end.

Generally the apparatus is a few feet away from the latrine. A Y stick is used to hold two rolls of toilet paper on the Y parts. The long end of the Y is sharpened and driven into the ground so the paper is about 12 to 18 inches above the ground. Cans or plastic 2 litter bottles can be used to cover the toilet paper to prevent moisture on the paper.

Modern Alternate:

The can and the stocking can simply be hung from a low hanging tree limb using nylon string with care. A parallel rope/string can be hung to hold a towel or paper towels.

I know that I had an article from BL or Program Helps but I can't find it. FB

I have yet to fail to have fun with Scouts. A person must go out of their way to miss it. The Adult Association method of Scouting truly has value. FB

Give him several options that are similar to his expressed interests. The options should be varied but not extensive. Go with him to visit an example of each kind of program. Let him make his choice. If he does not like any of the options, then expand the list. Scouting may or may not be on the initial list. FB

We just don't want anyone hurt. Having a book based on past mistakes lowers the risk but we still wind up erecting large tents with metal poles under electric lines when we know that we should have looked first. The Jamboree accident will forever ring in my ears as something that any of us might be prone to do. We get in a hurry. We get excited. We want to get on to other things and we don't look up.

One leadership skill today may be to slow everything down and to think. Slowing things down may apply to anything from erecting tall tents to not engaging in horseplay. It is when things get speeded up that problems occur. Too many, too fast, too much. I have been too tired and began to take short-cuts. I let my guard down and have tried to do things the easy way.

Slowing things down, I believe, also applies to hugging a Scout. A hug is just about the best thing that we could do for each other. It helps us get through difficulties. It is fast and has meaning attached. Sometimes, we may not be able to avoid it because it is a natural expression of our emotions. It still may be that we should slow down our outpouring of affection. The reason is that most Scouts know you have compassion for them. They know that you are willing to walk the extra mile. They know that you are working a full time job and that you are spending your time-off, spending your money, spending your best efforts to help make a worthwhile program. It may not be stated as such but it is there. They know. FB

When anyone joins Scouting, they must first declare they will abide by the religious part of the Oath, Law, Promise, etc. and then they must learn and recite them repeatedly. Logically, I am assuming that learning and saying these oaths do not entail the actual promise of action. If I understand this correctly, it would be much easier to rewrite the oaths to say something like, I (state your name) promise to,or On my Honor I will, etc.

(* I thought that it was already written that way but then maybe that is not what it means or my copy is too old.)

If you follow my supposition that the promise to act on the religious principle simply by stating the oaths is insufficient, then I must also assume that the remainder of the oaths is invalid as well. Now, if this holds and anyone cares, there should be a Declaration of National Allegiance, a Declaration of Scouting Allegiance, a Declaration of Allegiance to Service, a Declaration of Fitness and a Declaration of Alertness. I assume that the officials have already considered this point and have decided that the other Declarations are superfluous and/or they are not really all that important.

My last thought on this subject is that if the other parts of the oaths lack fundamental importance enough to merit a Declaration of their own, then I am left to assume that the underlying principle of the oaths is the Declaration of Religious Principle alone. If the DRP is a stand alone doctrine, then the oaths should be dismissed entirely as being inadequate to support the mission of Scouting and the DRP would be enough and all of the recitation could finally end. FB(This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

I agree with your analysis Semper, whenever a person stretches this scenario to its natural limits, something will finally snap. It will be then that we discover what truly is at the bottom of the whole enchilada. On a lighter not, I scanned the G2SS for any hint of Wedgie hazing or Wet Willying or even your basic Moon Pie Glowing but I came up with nothong. I truly hope this CM doesnt go to jail for wedgieing. II like to hope that there is room for growth.

I started Scouting in 1957. The wording on the application was not very important to me. At that time, I believed that everyone went to the same church, so the DRP was not a problem. I was mainly worried about how to get Arrow Points. One kid had them way down past his CS belt. I was greatly impressed. Since we are on the subject, I never got more than three or four Arrow Points per badge, which only made them stretch to an inch above my belt. I suppose "moving on" was my motto. FB

Figuring out if Wedgies crosses the line between child abuse, hazing or good old fashioned horseplay is quite the exercise in philosophical debate. I have to admit to seeing some humor there but then I also strongly disagree with it (Wedgies) on grounds that without a doubt it does not set a good example. The CM needs to ask himself, " Do I want the kids running around acting up and giving Wedgies to each other?" The Scouts need very little training in this area without someone bringing their extensive expertise to the table. The CM needs training regarding what is on the fun menu, such as songs, skits, run-ons, games, etc. which are generally entertainment enough. As for a punishment, I suggest taking him out behind the woodshed and retraining him.

Now then, where do Wet Willies fall on the scale, of course, just kidding. FB

Invoking the name of Saint BP is to appeal to the highest power to resolve our present situation. It is a nice try but falls short of the mark. The powers that be have made their decision and it is their opinion that counts and we haven't even named one of 'em. Since the atheists refuse to appeal to a higher power and the R.R. won't invoke the name of theirs to change it for them, then it appears we remain stalemated.

But since we are moving historical figures around the checker board, I call on the good name of James West. Mr. West added to the Scout Law, which further defined our present day decision. He rang the bell and now we have a knot that can't be untied no matter whom we call on. FB

(This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

Chip,

I believe one well trained and seasoned individual could do the job. This individual is the kind of person that can turn a large event with very little money and is also fun to be around. This person is not hard to spot but is generally not available. He/She is also hard to let go. So, a well stocked Plan B is the next best choice.

You sound like you are well versed.

FB

Chip,

I suggest trying a modified model borrowed from an evangelical church that I have known about. The organization takes a group of willing and trained adults, along with their families and they start a fully functioning unit in the area that shows growth. The idea is that there is no turning back to the former unit. If they need help, they reach out to the District.

Start with a person that has shown a desire to become a SM; there will always be one or two. Have him/her fully trained as well as reading the SM handbook. Get a fully trained Committee and 2 trained ASM's so that adult leadership and recruiting efforts will be exceptionally strong. Plan for a year and let them set sail.

This, of course, is easier said than done because of what I call the Rule of Laziness. It is a type of "gravitational pull" that disallows people to achieve something beyond what is already in place. If it does work, it will be because one person has a desire that is stronger than the threshold that keeps his/her behind in the lawn chair of life.

I really hope you find that one person.

FB

FB

kraut-60

You said you could start your own thread on losing weight. I am interested and want to hear more. You have got a customer.

FB

I wouldn't want to speak for my county and not just because there are allot of 'em or because more are arriving daily but because most have their own mouths to grind out their own opinions. On voting days, things swing left, right and center, one never knows for sure. Sometimes I wish that things were less polarized and that the Democrats would quit kicking up so darn much dust and the Republicans would just shut their yaps up but that ain't happening, at least no time soon. People these days have strong beliefs and they would like to wrestle their opponent to the ground into believing their way but that don't work either. We are all just standing around waiting our turn in line to get our punches in at the voting machine. In the meantime, I guess we will all serve jury duty in hopes we can get lucky enough to get on a trial and catch one of the wayward and put him away for good. That may be the only way to sway things back in the other direction.