Fuzzy Bear

I am in agreement with Eamonn. There are other layers in this organization than the unit that are instrumental in helping a young person benefit from and understand the principles of Scouting, especially when there is a complex problem such as a flag pole construction project. The District and the Council should be sought out for their advice and help anytime a leader needs help. BW would most likely quickly concur with this solution also. FB

I don't believe that popcorn compares to Girl Scout cookies. People actually enjoy specific kinds of GS cookies and they buy several packages not only for the taste but to assist the girl's in their program financially. People feel that there is a balance between the cost and the product. (*This last year the price seemed higher than in the past.) BS popcorn is different because the price is so high people are buying because they want to help finance a worthy program. Taste is secondary an almost not a consideration. The cost is out of proportion with the product. FB(This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

The Bear's Confession: I gave up the real stuff years ago. I now only drink a daily decaf. My wife works part-time at Starbucks and she will make me an occasional decaf Breve with almond extract and one third foam with whipped cream and little vanilla sprinkles on top. I am so ashamed! FB

Some would say that it is a pyramid with the Boys at the top with all of the levels below emphasizing and supporting the youth above. It always appeared to me like a circle. I realized even as a Scout that without everyone's efforts that Scouting wouldn't exist. As I read the history of our Founders, a good case could be made exactly for that conclusion. FB

It happened one year at a Scout Show. The Scouts took on the responsibility of doing a really poor job with their entry and they were rewarded for their efforts with a Participant's ribbon. Later, I was given the opportunity to award the Troop that very ribbon at a COH with all of the parents in attendance. I used that presentation to give them some valuable information about prospecting. I told them about a type of mineral that looks like what a person thinks of as gold but it really isn't. It sparkles and is flashy and is fairly easily found but has no value in relation to real gold. It is known as Fool's Gold. I told them that finding real gold takes hard work and is very difficult to find. But if they want something of value then they would need to do the work themselves and it would not be easy. I brought the SPL forward and awarded him their ribbon. It was a quiet reception. I had left my post as SM by the next year when the Scout Show rolled around. I was involved with some type of exhibit when to my surprise some of the Scouts from the Troop came around and invited me over to their booth. They had done a superb job building a life size monkey bridge with two climbing towers at each end. They had done the work themselves and later they were awarded one of the top prizes. That evening as we were tearing down our exhibit about ten of the Scouts came running over to me gushing with enthusiasm. They said as they held up their ribbon for me to see, "what we have this year is real gold!" They said it over and over. I am amazed even to this day about the change that a year makes in a young person. FB

When considering that life has no known end point and is short at best and it is a given that children are life's only real value and if you understand that, then the feeling you have is nausea. Jealousy is rooted in envy. FB

Hospital, being cut off, are you OK? Was it the SPL? To know how to respond (to the real problem), I would need to know more about your/their meetings. You do sound like you are ready for a change. I wouldn' subscribe to the Soccer score method first. FB

I think I have finally figured it out. I have now watched 4 or 5 SPLs with the same... Boleta was in a hurry and substituted the word "with" for the words "that are". My suggestion is to have an election. I think this finally solves a most distressing problem. Good luck in the future. FB

Eagle 1984, We are so happy to know that the problem is solved. By the way, what is your position in the Troop? FB

Eamonn, Congratulations go to OJ and yes, you may feel pride without restraint. You too have made something of importance. I have never washed my sash after all of these many years because it is a distant reflection of our service. FB(This message has been edited by Fuzzy Bear)

Laurie, The two mile limit for knowing that you have reached "too much" is when you feel that you can no longer say NO. The committee's job is to support the Pack's activities. If you and your husband are always doing and going beyond your personal and family's time together, then throw out the anchor and STOP but tell the committee first, during the planning stages. The committee's job will be to continue to support the events they planned even when both of you are doing something else. As far as "too much" leading to confusion, it could be confusing if there was no support but that is not your responsibility once you have informed the committee. FB

I could have interpreted the intercepted message wrong. An alternative reading of it might be: I have now watched 4 or 5 SPL's with the same...bandanas over their heads coming this direction and I am distressed. What do I do? I would suggest making arrangements for a general PLC with the proper amount of refreshments. It still doesn't make sense to me why so many SPL's would be converging at the same time unless it was time to plan for a Camporee. The theme might be Cops and Robbers. I don't know maybe they are not really SPL's but then where did they get those patches, probably at the Scout Store as suggested in the earlier post. still confused, FB

I think I have picked up the signal... "I have now watched 4 or 5 SPLs with the same"... 'patch and I think that each one should have their own. What do I do?' This may not be correct but it is as good as I could do, given my equipment. So, my answer is to buy another patch. They are fairly inexpesnive and can be found at most Scout Stores. I hope this helps to reduce your distress. This does seem to be a problem easily untangled but who am I to judge? FB

Just in case you need to know about Scouting past for WB: It was noted several years later that the unnamed Boy Scout that assisted William D. Boyce (a.k.a. Bill) in finding Baden Powell's office in the London fog was from the Bear Patrol. Ernest Thompson Seton and Dan Beard painted pictures and wrote stories about Bears. James E. West later admitted that he wished he had a B. in his name like most of the others because all of them actually belonged to the Bear Patrol and he insisted on uniformity. This story could not be confirmed but has remained in Bear Patrol lore for all these many years. Fuzzy Bear

Happy, It is nice to have you with us. Peace follows you. FB

le Voyegeur, Nope, crow gets stuck in the wind pipe, so it is best et with something stronger than Joe. Cobbler comes much later. FB

Carol, It sounds like you and your husband have been busy. I hope you find this site as enjoyable as the rest of us have found it to be. If you have any questions, please write them on the nearest post and like magic an answer will appear. FB

How about your State Park system? You do have a State Park system, don't you? FB

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My Son, you are absolved of your sin, but first say 25 hail Sankas, You may now look the others in the eye without regret or remorse. Thank you for your confession. (*your credit card is now being charged for this sacred interlude. Angels sing quietly in the background.) Go forth and drink good coffee but say no more of bad yuppie beverage or eating habits. It will cost you much more to do so. FB

Mrs. Smith, I have experience with the job that your question addresses. When I first started in to Scouting as an adult, I was signed up as a Unit Commissioner, UC. I did not have training and was given little supervision. I was told that I had three units to cover. Later, I was given a check-off list to complete (*after) I made a visit to each unit. I was to return to the District Commissioner, DC, and share the results of my efforts. I would seek counsel from the DC and then I would return to the unit to attempt corrective action (i.e., passive corrective action). There are key issues that have been found over the years that must be addressed to keep a unit healthy. The check-off list generally covers these issues. The problem with the list is that it is formulaic in character and does not take into consideration other elements that arise because of specific situations, which is almost always the case. The next problem comes with using new people in the program to be UC's. Lack of experience most always is seen as an insult to a person that has been running a unit for any length of time. It is viewed as paternal in nature and shows a lack of trust and respect. Given that type of experience, it keeps the UC from being effective. I am not going to review the specific duties of the job at this time. Maybe others would like that honor. I really believe that they have only one duty but then that is my personal perspective. I would like to address your other question about the reason a person would like to do the job. I want to return to my topic paragraph to make my point. It is contrary to everything that a UC wants to accomplish when the UC lacks experience. It is my contention that only Scouters with experience should undertake this job. These individuals know and understand how Scouting works. These individuals command respect from those they come into contact with and they are able to make a quicker connection and their opinion may be sought out instead of derided. The experienced Scouter as a UC can view problems without need to correct unit problems in a haphazard way. The UC with experience has insight that others lack and their ability to know that growth takes time is not wasted with being frustrated. A UC that is respected for their knowledge, experience and friendliness will make any visit an enjoyable time and one that is eagerly anticipated. This type of individual is known for what they can bring to a visit rather than what they take away. Now, to briefly return to that one duty that I believe that this type of UC fulfils is one of friendship and that is the same reason one would want to do the job of UC. FB

This Spin-off came from another post from a disgruntled Rifle and Shotgun Merit Badge Counselor. He/She wanted recognition for a job well done and deservedly so. Since the individual is upset about being overlooked and seeing the name of the MB that is represented, I thought we should reconsider our lack of appreciation efforts. (*no threats were made- just kidding, really, ha, ha) Given the number of knots that exist and given the lack of space on a shirt, does it make sense to continue adding knots for every service, since there are already patches for many of these things already? (*Of course, we should have at least one for our Rifle and Shotgun MB Counselor!) I have a couple of trunks of recognitions from over the years. I periodically have to reduce the inventory or I would need to add another wing onto the house just for storage. I get rid of the sacred pieces of burnt firewood and jars of ashes from the everlasting campfires because there just simply isn't any more room. I guess that is another problem. I really like the certificates that I can put into a clear plastic slide holder and insert them into a 3 ring notebook. I also like the letters that are handwritten from friends that I have worked with over the years. I wished I had more just to be able to remember all of the great events and people. If I tried to put all of the certificates on the wall, then I would need that wing that I told you about, so into the binder they go. Well, that brings me full circle to asking for input on this issue. Should we have more Square Knots? What services should get a Square Knot? Should we have a Square Knot for patches that already exist? You might go ahead and insert some requirements for some of those knots. FB

Scoutinggus, You should commended for your time, effort and money spent in assisting young people. You are also helping teach the responsible and safe use of guns, a task that we are all glad to know about. I think that if you feel you would be satisfied by having a Merit Badge Counselor Knot for all of your hard work then it should be so. I am not in a position to grant such wishes, so it may not happen. I personally don't feel that it would fill the bill. Something else seems wrong. If there are fees for the shooting range, buying bullets and targets, then the Scouts should be charged for those basic fees. As for your certification expenses, hopefully, you are doing that because it is your hobby or your part-time job. If you have a basic fee that you charge for instruction, then that also might be charged to the Scouts. If you are doing this all out of your own pocket, then you are justified in the thought that someone is simply taking a free ride. Scouts pay their own way and they should be informed about the basic expenses. Now, if you want to give all of this without any fees, then people should be informed, so that they could have the opportunity to give you some type of recognition. If you have not been recognized in some way, then it is time to stop and have a talk with the District Key three. Your frustration is evident and you will most likely stop helping if not recognized. I know that it would make you feel worse to speak to someone about your lack of recognition but you are important to us in today's world. What you are doing is valuable and needs to be recognized. I hope that you are able to solve this problem. FB

Tigers and Lions, and Bears, Oh No! We are happy to have you among us. Please hold on to the handrails when the cart takes off. FB

Actually, (a) is also kind of correct because you do open your eyes and yes, © is also kind of correct because you must be out in nature but you are still wrong, so it is now HINT time: Note: (b) is incorrect because the candy bar should be in your mouth and one should never wait to eat such things. BIG HINT 1 First go to your BSHB to Chapter 14 under Observing Nature. Secondly leaf, get it leaf?, through this section. Thirdly, see, get it see?, if you can find the answer. If you find the answer, you only get 1 point because you are taking your shot directly in front of and on top of the hoop. FB