Fuzzy Bear

Wolfpack, Eamonn overstates a point to insure that you will be informed of the road ahead. Not to worry, the backspace key is used very little here even when it is quite evident it should be the only one engaged. The word "testy" simply means to stay on your toes and don't be a Slacker. We expect your best and since you have experience in Scouting that shouldn't be too hard. So welcome, Fuzzy Bear

"The bottom line is it is advantageous to everyone involved if the units do their best to support their parent organization to ensure that camperships are available to anyone who needs them. To not do so is neither loyal, friendly, kind or thrifty or to help other people at all times. " This last statement is inflammatory in several different languages and cultures but it still can be overlooked for the benefit of having a civil argument and to show that I can be kind and friendly even when I am verbally abused. Are you saying that popcorn supports Camperships only? Our unit began making repayable Camperships available sometime ago and we haven't requested a Campership from Council since. We believe and act on the principle that welfare doesn't work. We train Scouts how the economy works by letting them work and pay or repay. Are you saying that FOS campaign no longer sustains the Council budget? We have contributed to the FOS yearly as a unit. I give to it regularly and substantially in relation to my budget. Are you saying that the United Way is unable to sustain the Council budget? I have given to the UW but earmarked my donations to the Scouting program. Are you saying that the Endowment program has not started to contribute to the Council budget? We have encouraged several to obtain information and to engage in this program. Are you saying that all of the sweat and personal money that I poured into our Council's Camps is considered of no value since our Scouts chose not to sell popcorn and therefore I am disloyal and unhelpful and untrustworthy, and unthrifty? If there is anything left in your tank, please explain because your definition of a good Scout appears to be much different than mine. I had been lead to believe there was a choice involved but I didn't realize that it meant either being a Scout or not being a Scout. FB

I think I am now beginning to understand what the word Rant means. It is the enjoyment of an argument no matter what the topic happens to be or the size of it. It is the enjoyment of listening to the same arguments repeated endlessly. It is like being on a Merry-go- Round, throwing up your arms and holding on by your feet. It is based on the assumption that argument can change a person's perspective and/or belief system. (Note: This is the best one of all.) Just wanted to share a few rambling thoughts. Good Morning, FB

Reasons for me to waiver on this popcorn issue: 1. The very people in this forum that claim that the program rests solely in the unit are supporting popcorn because they now claim they fully support the Council. (Note: This argument is so irrational that I am looking for this to be a psychological experiment.) 2. The very people in this forum that claim that the word political is overused because it is being used in conjunction with popcorn are also supporting forced sell of popcorn as being non-political. (Note: This is confusing or irrational or caused from excessive drink.) 3. The thought that if we don't sell popcorn, we don't support Council. (Note: If Council's existence rests on the Scouts selling popcorn, then we are in the worst kind of shape that I can imagine or there is something else going on, such as a Brother-in-Law in the mix somewhere?) 4. After reading about popcorn in the Canadian piece, there has been a decline in enrollment due in part to the forced sell of popcorn. (Note: How did this popcorn bunch get such a stranglehold on the BSA? Does this Company have a relative on the National Board?) 5. The accusation of people in this forum that if we don't support popcorn, we support welfare. (Note: Now, this is an argument that doesn't follow at all but is useful. It is like one of those political ads.) 6. The threat of and the act of putting the issues of popcorn and camperships together is not "political" but is really only being a good Thrifty Scout. (Note: This is one twisted argument but it sounds like someone making like they are trying to think.) 7. All of the work done by leaders for Council over the years is thought to be of no help if they do not support popcorn. (Note: Over the years, I never once thought of my work for Council as being anything other than a Good Turn effort on my part but I now understand that the perspective from Council is that unless I have the boys sell popcorn, my Good Turns are seen as being in opposition to them.) I think I am beginning to see the reason for the name of this venture being called "Trails End". Boy, they almost got me, FB

Unc, Thank you for sharing part of Zehe's story with us. It is a loving expression of who you are. Life gives us death to make us feel the depth of our soul. Zehe's soul made us feel life. FB

Since I grew up enjoying NR's art, looking at Csatari's work is similar to looking at a person attempting to copy a style but having no real understanding of it. Csatari's work appears to be more advertisement for BSA rather than an individual's own expression of the organization and/or those unique moments that make it fun. When NR painted, I knew that he had something personally insightful to say to me. Csatari's work has little of the personality or warmth of NR and appears to be a carefully construed ad that says, JOIN. I wonder what Csatari's work would be like if he wasn't trying to be NR? It is obvious he has talent. My wish for him is to be himself. FB

In part, this is what eagle said about what is wrong with the Canadian Boy Scouts: "Management has created National Fund raisers. They are sending kids 5 to26 years of age into the street to sell popcorn and hot chocolate. In my view, the kids did not sign up to be uniformed door-to-door salesman. They joined to learn by doing, have fun and become responsible citizens. As a Scouter, I signed on to try to deliver quality program for the kids, not supervise inventory and collection of money while I chauffeur them around the neighbourhood selling what amounts to overpriced goods so that National can take their percentage to pay another salary or deficit. We, a small group of ordinary members, have now organized this association in order to try to save Scouts Canada from itself and bring back management accountability." Some in the BSA may recognize what he has said. FB

I am without the answer as you suspected. You must live just North of my old home town. I used to live in Mesquite, all those many years ago before the Bass spawned in swarms in LRH. FB

(This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

(This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

I am curious. Does your Council track each individual's Popcorn sales, so they will be able to "scratch your back" when you need something? If that is the new Scout ethic that a Council lives by, then Scouting has blown its Goody Two Shoes right off both feet. FB

We love a good rant better than football!

I always enjoy a good Boy Scout story. Thanks for sharing. I hope you go away and return as a Bear. FB

Answer: No two trees are the same. Question: You live near Lake Ray Hubbard? FB

He was a loving father, a man that spent time with his family, and was beloved by all that knew him. He was so much more than just a man with a Lear jet. How many times have we heard those immortal words at funerals? Let me count... FB

I believe that the we are all out of gas, so now we get out and walk. If anybody sees a flagpole, don't tell me.

A wooden interpretation of each and every word is like allowing a non-citizen, non-English speaking person translate for you. About half of each phrase will be missed, as has been demonstrated in this case. The intent is what the person is attempting to communicate and the basis of the actual meaning. FB

In my opinion, "should" is closer to "must", in as much as 51% is thought of as not having an effect until it is put into action. The requirement states that "any" school could be used. Is a For-profit school a school? Only, if used in the sense that the word was intended which is most likely a public school. Were For-profit schools around when the manual was written, yes, but we do not know the background of the writer. Since we don't know the specifics about the person writing or the thought of the committee or writer that wrote the requirement, the word must be used in the way it is generally thought of which is a public school (*unless you live in a closed community) until the issue is approved by the SM, and the District or the Council advancement people to give their interpretation. The next question in regards to the Service Project has to do with the idea of a Good Turn. The definition of a Good Turn is not just the act of helping but it also needs the element of giving extra effort in that act. The person helping must first identify that the receiver is in need of assistance and that assistance must involve doing something that the receiver could not fully do themselves without that assistance. One example is based on an old Scout cartoon where a Scout is helping a woman cross the street against her wishes. He is telling her, as he is pulling, that he must do a Good Turn every day and today is her day. Let's take it a step further, say Lockheed Martin Aircraft Industries builds a building in a community. A Scout passes by and says to himself, "They don't have a flag pole." So, the Scout goes inside and asks to erect the flag pole as his Eagle service project. Everyone is excited about this because it helps them out by making them look good and it helps the Scout out. The Scout says to himself, "this is helping and it involves extra effort." It meets the Good Turn requirement and the Eagle requirement that says "any school" because Lockheed has a night class for some of its employees and the requirement says "any school" and/or my community. LMAI is also a big part of my community, so it meets that part of the definition also. It is this kind of rigid thinking that leads one to believe that they have met all of the standards but in reality they have not because they entirely missed the intent, which should be obvious. Unless a person's community is a model city recently built and stocked with rich, healthy, kind, and wonderful people, then it would be hard to miss the ample opportunities to extend a helping hand to those in need. Quibbling about words is an exercise of the rich, while those in need wonder what all of the fuss is about. FB

CC, To participate or not to participate is not the question. It is an invitation and not a demand or a quandary. Council has offered a fund raiser that the Scout, the Unit, and the Council will benefit from through participation. Few people (on the whole face of the earth) will not give a young person a Campership because the Unit did not participate in selling popcorn. Fewer will never even come up with that kind of an idea. The vast majority would not even consider for an instant that kind of unthinking. But, I know there are a few. I personally don't agree with the idea of selling an item for many times its' worth. It sends the wrong message to everyone involved. Some have justified it by calling it a donation. My personal belief is that if a person has to justify it, then it is not what it appears and it still sends out a bad signal. I believe in a good product for a fair price. Salesmanship is part of a respected profession and people understand it because it has to do with fairness. As far as having a unit fund raiser, do it and do it according to the Council guidelines. But don't think for a minute that you owe 30% to your Council. That kind of a donation is not expected nor asked for by anyone and would most likely be rejected. The Council will not fail because your unit decided to do something else. The Council is there to serve your Unit and the Scouts in your Unit and not the other way around. FB

Unc, Good eye. FB

I think I know this one because 1. I was a SM 2. in Texas once upon-a time. I used to use the bottle method for the "call". By the way, winters do get cold in some parts, depending on the wind and the humidity. I once described this as a proven method to keep from freezing to a few of the Scouts. We had a laugh over it and I figured that would be the last of it. One evening I went out to dinner and I encountered the parents of one of my Scouts that had not been in the group. I asked how everything was going and he said pretty good but there had been a problem. Of course, I asked about it. He said that his son's tent Buddy had used the previously mentioned "proven method" and that his son had gotten up in the middle of the night and kicked the a full bottle all over his sleeping gear. He said that whoever came up with such a lame idea ought to be shot. After quietly agreeing with him about the veracity of such an idea I decided that the "proven method" needed revising, like using a screw on cap or maybe going back outside. I figured we needed to anything to keep from having another round of the same. The next meeting we discussed this little used but unproven method as being unsuitable for camping. So, without looking it up I am going to venture a guess based solely on my experience with the "proven method" as being False. FB

We have reached a mutually agreeable end when things of little value are exchanged. You may take a parting shot across my bow. My flag stands at half mast. FB

My wife stays home with the kids and I work for a middle income salary. Nobody has told me that they are jealous. I think it is because their sights are on such little things of importance. Yet, I have a feeling of worth that is so far beyond money that words can't describe it. FB

It is interesting to note that artists generally enjoy painting what they consider to be their reflection of life or life as they see it. Norman Rockwell ran into this several times when he painted and was later instructed by James West and others to fix it and make it correct. A picture sometimes is best when it reflects life as we not only observe it but are attached to it through our emotions. This means that the mistakes we make as people are more important than the simple demonstration of the correct method of wearing a uniform. Am I against wearing the uniform correctly? No. I am saying that learning how to wear the uniform is a growth process (*a method of Scouting). I have an emotional response when a Scout has glued his patches on in the wrong places. It is both funny and sad. I know that several small training sessions are now in order to help him become uniformed properly. It will take time but it is in those moments that capture my heart and it is how I remember the best of times. If I could just get it on canvas... FB

"Like other service awards, though, earning such an award should not be a conscious endeavor..." I have not seen that aspect of the service awards. It is a good thought though. FB