anarchist

fund raising.... dinners- spaghetti, BBQ chicken/ribs, brunswick stew... Food services at local fairs/concerts...hot dogs and burgers/popcorn breakfasts- pancakes usually Mulch sales in early spring...big hit in our neck of the woods but must be early spring...just before folks start getting the "bug" to plant...we do presales and are looking at a presale-site sale (haul in a tractor trailer to a local lot and sell off the truck for a couple of days... parking services at local events... service to other organizations...we started putting up flags serveral times a

Sir_Scoutalot, Our guys have done the keys and the out island adventure (for years). We have been lucky enough to have had had at least one crew at seabase for 10 of the last twelve years. I have yet to see a boy come back with anything less than a big smaile and great memories...most of our older boys have done Sea Base two or three times and are evenly split as to which they like best... both my pirates liked living on Munson Island best (my youngest came back so wired one year it took weeks for him to "come down"...drove mom nutz) but that said, many of our guys (and most adult leaders

I'll play Meetings- Uniform shirt (am partial to long sleeves), usual troop patches, three knots, CM patch...bolo (which is considered troop Adult neckwear, and for that matter our eagles wear eagle bolo)old BSA uniform pants- (before the patch pockets), leather BSA belt with BSA logo embossed buckle, BSA socks and brown mocks (can't seem to find Buster Browns anywhere!) Outdoors Uniform (same field shirt as above- have three)Switchbacks (which still need some design finessing)or if the going is to be 'tough' Olive rip-stop BDU pants...my alternate class "B" is the activity shirt (

kenk... troop guides...topic near and dear to my heart...personally think it is the most important position in the troop... TG's are not members of the NSP they are mentors/teachers and examples for the newbies. TG's help deliver the program to the NSP. If they are not fit for the job NSP retention suffers and eventually so does the Troop. generally, in our troop, they remain in their own patrols but for one year they are "on detail" and are members of the youth leadership cadre (green bars) and the PLC. If their patrol has an activity that does not conflict with their duties

elizdaddio, If you want to, we can talk "coup d'etat", but we need more info on your troop...numbers. patrols, age ranges...and more importantly the thinking behind such a lack luster, dying program? What do the old guys say in defense of doing nothing? Why do they turn down your efforts to do more? It's information needed to brain storm.... But basically the best way to work this might be in short; first you get your SM leader specific training and continue to suppliment with CPR, Safety afloat, safe swim etc...become a strong ASM- not committee member. That is, If you have the gump

gosh, sorta sounds like the sorority that kicked out the plain janes and the "fat girls"... Perhaps, it would work in a perfect world...but in the one I live in -I'll take what I can get...an use the heck out of them! We have a very fit leader, the SM...(and many very fit ASMs) but he hates Hiking...we also have several others willing to "step in" (sorry) on hiking events...One of these hikers looks to be fifty pounds overweight, has sleep apnea issues and can walk the legs off a mountain goat...Should we deep six him? Personally, I think he is a jewel (in the rough). We also ha

CNYScouter, in the distant past...when we did have the problem...once and it caused a cancellation of a major trip..."we go as a unit or we don't go at all!" Then our Scoutmaster at the time simple sent out word that since we did not have enough volunteer drivers...in the future every Scout parent was to show up with their scout "expecting to transport their own son to the activity"....many, many parents put their collective heads together and "tah-dah!" suddenly we had enough drivers...has not been a problem since..."no volunteers = everyone drives = enough volunteers" funny isn't it?

CNYScouter, How hard are your guys willing to work and what will they put up with? Just a thought here, but it might work...I am unaware of any east coast scouting summercamp surf program...course IMHO I am unaware of any real "surf" on the east coast (joking guys) small waves, yes, but it is not like the "real thing"... That said, one of the hot spots for east coast surfing is the Outer Banks of North Carolina...Hatteras Island to be exact...It would not be difficult to put together a week long camping trip (there is National Park camp at Cape Hatteras as well as Frisco (ten minutes

are you looking for troop size or crew size adventure? A lot of the (most?) high adventure trips are limited by the outfitter or by park rules to 8-10-12 persons per crew (impact and quality of adventure issues). For troop size I can highly recommend "scoutingagain's" recommendation- -Blue Ridge has an outstanding set of program offerings... members of you troop can chose from several different high adventure programs. For crew size, there are many choices-Sea Base; Northern tier- boundary waters trips; up state New York has outfitters and lake adventures galore; of course, Philmont is alwa

ustbeeowl, easiest way is to have each set of scouts (2) chip in 2 bucks a each and buy two sets (of four) 15 inch galanized tent stakes at Wal-mart ($1.97 for set of four). On a typical "A" frame (timberline type) one per corner and two on each side of the fly will hold the tent down in 40 plus MPH sustained winds (been there and done that at Assateague). Our troop has done this camp for the last 9 years and we factor the stakes into the camp fee each year. We now have about 160 stakes in two large buckets that are only used for beach and "mud-o-rees". We replace the ones that get bent b

MattR, Son, If you can't take the joke don't tip over the cow... There is not a unit or district fund raiser out there that can not be turned on its head with your "scouts should give it away arguement" These gals have found a need and are filling it... ...and what about the poor child that can't afford it???(someone said)- good gosh folks, there are scouts that can't afford the uniform...no one makes them buy one and no one makes them pay for lessons ..if their units can't teach skills...they need to find another way! Question does your unit give away free popcorn if some kids s

Gosh, i Like being on the outside... MattR (and most posters on this thread) you are simply wrong and forgive me for saying it way out of line...the powers that be in you council seem to have no problem with the situation so whats your problem? And for that matter what business is it of yours what another unit is doing as long as council has no beef with it? Just where in any scouting literature GS or BSA have they crossed any lines? Did someone die and make you girl scouting ethics czar or did youi just inherit to much of the stick you nosey where it don't belong gene? (was that over the to

resqman, Where to start?...First this is a perfect time to get the scouts to take ownership of the problem and I totally disagree with the implication that an adult needs to put things straight and THEN turn it over to the scout...(pure bull bisquets and cow dribble!) Let them do the work and search for answers while you make guiding (quiet) comments and suggestions. Remember if the boys can do it ADULTS DON'T!. If you do it they do not have to learn a thing! Mentor coach teach...but make them "DO". As to colored tape on cooking tools...I ask you to consider sanitation at this pio

Man o man, troop funding airfare???...don't think that would fly...In our troop... it would not even get to committee as our eagle coordinator would have snuffed it as soon as it was out of someones mouth...If by some insane chance it did get to committee, then I would snuff it out! Troops should not be funding a single penny of a lads Eagle project and that includes airfare or carfare...all parts of the projects costs should be part of the Eagle's plan...and that should include not asking for troop funds for "shipping labor" to the site...or whatever (was that over the top?). If the

Feeling guilty? Molested kids parents should have reported the "suspected" molester to the police immediately...and if they have not should do so now! Unfortunately, predators are opportunistic and are rarely caught their first or second or even third time...By the time they finally get "turned in", most have been praying on others for long periods of time. Wanna bet that this situation "could have been stopped" if someone would have spoken up earlier. While following the BSA guidelines is adequate...for our organization...I wonder if we would have the same "group feeling" if E

resqman, easiest step...combine what you have then check with the scout shops for "open items pieces" to finish your sets...then buy 4 new ones... or hit the thrift shops and yard sales, and Ebay for partial sets or even just regular pots and pans to give the boys.... In many cases you can make do....without "matching". now for the soap box... Where the heck is the troop quartermaster? He should have a written troop equipment inventory, (as well as be doing the inventory you just "did")....And he should have inventory control system in place; check-out/check-in forms, use

heck, after the election six years ago we just closed all of our scout accounts and troop accounts and invested in Exxon, B-P, Duke energy and Haliburton...the returns are great...ain't America grand! anarchist....

Mr. Dewitt, ditto on getting as well as you can... I won't tell you things will be ok or any of that other drivel 'cause I am not your doctor (nor do I play one on TV). Not knowing the type or stage of your cancer nor the damage done by your cardiac event means everything I could say would be feel good platitudes... I will say, from personal experience, that your having positive attitude and real determination to fight for every day you have left on this earth can make a tremendous difference in the quality of the "rest of your life". I did it backwards and in slow motion

Way to go, Eagle90...! to gonzo...at what cost to your program should you go to retain this scout? I've been wondering whats next...So there it is... Let's "dumb-down" the outdoor program because we have parents afraid of "dirt" or snakes or rain...whatever,(you pick). This is scouting...offer the program and move on...I still remember the cringe on our SM's face several years ago when I was describing an upcoming shakedown camp for NSPs and a "princess mom" pointed out..."don't you know there are copperheads there?!?"...slight pause...I replied (looking dead at her) "Yep, and i

like beating a dead horse.... can't add to the requirements...can't reduce the requirements (except for exceptions).... Lets face it...If he pays BSA his registration and has a pulse...he gets his Eagle...its as simple as that...EVEN if his project was not approved, EVEN if it was done before it was submitted, EVEN if his write-ups were 6th grade quality on torn "spiral" paper in pencil...as long as his parents raise a howl and go to council or national...HE GETS TO BE AN EAGLE...(not hyperbole - really happened folks). The only real world route you can take to avoid the resum

Our guys are taking a fishing weekend river trip the first weekend in June ...they have just decided that Saturday night the main course is game hens. They have also figured that if they clean and cut the birds in half they can reduce the storage (# of coolers) space needed...thought that was pretty sharp...noe they are deciding to "spit 'em or grill 'em"...I refused to take 8 or nine D.O.s down-river..They will take one (D.O.) for cobbler and fully expect to have a fish fry! By the way...don't forget your favorite gorp type mix! I find that having a few "zip-locks filled with dryed fruit

As they say "In God we trust, all others pay cash!". As many here have said in other terms ..."been there, done that, and bought the tee shirt!" We no longer front money even for grub... For Activities and Events, first we have sign up, then "Money Monday" depending on when the "dead line" has to be...no money no reservation- your sign-up is scratched. On limited "slot" trips (usually high adventure treks; sea base white water canoe weeks etc.) we have a "show interest" sign-up(sorta pre-sign up)...if it looks like we have more interest than slots and we can not expand the trek

Canoe menus depend on what you want to eat and how much you want to carry...dehydrated is ok...but real food is better. On a typical weekend canoe trip we will eat very well. for say 10 to 12 boys and a few adults we will make riverside camp friday night. Saturday morning is usually coffee, cocoa and tang with oatmeal and a bagel. While we are cleaning up and packing from breakfast we make a chicken or tuna salad,(since we have plenty of ice -frozen steaks - we would add mayo in zip locks at camp) -no ice...mix it at lunch site in zip locks-no dishes to clean). Take a head of lettu

va-scouter, What is it that Tony the Tiger says...GGGGRRREAT! (?) Well 2007 will be our second year in a row...and it is farther from us than our council camp...In fact, we sort of drive by our council camp to get there..and can you say "Oh, So Much better". Last Year we had boys doing Powhatan, Boys doing the Mountain man adventure, boys doing the New River whitewater adventure camp and boys doing the long distance Hike (forgot the name of the session)- about40 boys in all. These folks know how to do the summercamp "thing". Program is well planned..."Giving away" merit badges is no

hold on richwebelomom... In addition to the difficult ones the scout stuff people have some nice LEATHER slides. Simple laced together "cones" of cow hide. These in many cases are packaged in den size project packs(groups of eight). You can then decide if you want to get a small leather tooling kit for the pack and each den "stamp out" patterns, which is a hoot or perhaps paint or "stain" the leather or just lace the things up and use them au naturel...I carry five of them in my glove box for "lending" to our boys at special events (flag cerimonies, picture ops, service projects) w