John-in-KC

The other advantage of a well-maintained database is reconciling Scouts & Scouters come recharter!!!

Following up on Eagle73... As does seeing the caparisoned horse, boots backward, and the casket on the artillery caisson at Arlington... John LTC, FA

Our RT doesn't get much of a budget from District; so fund raising to underwrite our annual Program Fair is one of our ongoing things. At our January RT, pre-opening will be "Pie the Staff" $5 donation gets a chance to shove a whipped cream pie in the face of the either the incoming or outgoing DCs, or one from the RT Commish and her staff. The staff can "buy out" of a pie: $10 a pop. We also have one Scoutmaster: He's a wonderful guy, but he's also the Scouter everyone loves to round on: The fee to pie him is $25. We'll do this from 7-730 on RT night. Ongoing features of RT pre-opening include the Patrol Box (food for folks running from work to RT) and coffee and cookies. John(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Scouters and others, On November 20, Senator Bill Frist, along with Senator John Ensign of Nevada, introduced the "Save our Scouts" bill (S3026). Here is a hyperlink to Senator Frist's press release: http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=1776&Month=11&Year=2004 via tinyurl: http://tinyurl.com/4j7o8 Here is a hyperlink to data on the bill from thomas.loc.gov: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:s.03026: At this writing, Senator Tallent of MO (YES!!!) and Senator Inhofe of Oklahoma have added their names to the co-sponsor list. WHAT YOU CAN DO: 1) Read the bill for yourself. 2) Decide your position on the bill. 3) Advocate to your Senators that they sign on as co-sponsors http://www.senate.gov (find your senators own site and e-note input page) 4) Advocate to your Representative that they introduce and support parallel legislation in the House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep 5) Since this Congress is about to adjourn, be prepared to write again in January 2005. John (This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

OGE, I tried to reach you in private message but the server truncating monster got me even there. There wasn't anything that I didn't want to say to the forum as a whole; I just wanted to say THANK YOU for your idea of having the youth design a uniform, then having a vote-off in Boys Life. Someone else here had another really good idea: Use the established outdoor manufacturers as part of the contest. At the dawn of the 21st Century, when we know so much about hypo and hyper-thermia, there is no reason in the world for BSA supply division to be in the dark ages on clothing and equipment design. Columbia, Carhartt, Levi Strauss, Kelty (who does supply to BSA), Camp Trails, REI, all make world class equipment. As I've had a chance to mull this in my mind, I think the contest idea needs just a little more structure: First division: Uniforms suitable to year-round wear in certain climates, and summertime wear through most of the Nation. Second division: Uniforms suitable for year-round wear through most of the Nation. Third division: Uniforms suitable for winter wear in the colder climates. That would mean 15-30 final uniforms in the competition. This is the point where Supply Division has to cough up some R&D bucks and make some test sets to supply Philmont, Northern Tier, and Sea Base. It's really possible!: At the end of the competition, BSA can have well designed, well constructed, high-utility uniforms. John(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Agree with OGE, but 1 rule: "Top 5 designs will be wear tested at Philmont, Sea Base, and Northern Tier.

Cub: Lion, AoL. Boy: Life. OA: Brotherhood. NOW: Committee Chair, am MB counselor & RT staff(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Life for Life. Short version why: Program in 68-74 time didn't facilitate advancement 1st Cl--->Eagle as it does now(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Another truncated post. Will repost on this from the house tonight.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

The MANAGER of the BSA Supply Division Scout Shop (Kansas City) says there is NO lifetime warranty; "manufac

Another truncated post(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

I voted at 7AM. I now get to be an iconoclast for the next two years John

Have you tried calling Philmont and asking them?? I know there's a contract bus from Amtrak at Raton...

We did "Cubs Around the World" in either 2000 or 2001 here in Heart of America Council. John

My two cents... Fabric and construction are my hot buttons. The pieces of excrement that Supply Division calls uniform parts today are designed to wear out in 6-12 months. That's just not OK for adults. There ARE police uniformers who make a Khaki shirt that is of similar design and superior quality to the BSA field shirt. Supply Division needs to get with the program There ARE pant manufacturers who make good shorts and trousers that are of BETTER design and superior quality to the BSA field trou. Columbia comes to mind. WHY IS IT Philmont sells Columbia shorts??? Hmmmm??? Why is it many council camps have shorts with their patch on them, courtesy of Columbia??? HMMMM??? I have my 31 year old youth uniform in my closet. It's my second youth uniform; I outgrew my first. I compare it to my current adult uniform. Frankly, I prefer the construction, fit, and finish of the old clothes. Design? Not quite a "so-what, who cares"... but certainly there are better designs for the Field trousers and shorts than what Supply Division foists on us now. My thoughts. Others will have different thoughts. John

IMO: Worth the cost to BOND the Treasurer, the CC, and the SM/CM/Advisor.

Let's try this... I am a Citizenship in the World Counselor. I have contacts with 3-4 friendly foreign consulates. I point the youth to them, having youth specifically ask about naturalization. I also have a Department of State contact. I point the youth to her, having youth specifically ask about: - obtaining US naturalization, as though they were of alien nationalities desiring to immigrate. - renouncing US citizenship. BTW, Homeland Security has responsibility for US Citizenship and Immigration Services: http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/index.htm As an example, here is the United Kingdom's list of consulates in the United States: http://www.britainusa.com/consular/cnsl_loc.asp I would also recommend, as Counselor prep, spending as much time as possible drilling through the US Department of State website: http://www.state.gov(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Scoutmaster makes decision, boy by boy. Committee sets policy and revisits it now and again(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Bloody server truncated my post; will try to re-enter tonight(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Bottom Line Up Front: Different forms of service may be creditable against different activities: As an advancement coordinator in a unit... 1) OA Ordeal: Normally, no for advancement. This service time is a threshold to enter the Order. Now, cheerful service at an induction, AFTER the Ordeal? Definitely yes. 2) I can live with this as service time. Our unit tries to encourage service time to be away from Scouting, but when the youth volunteers... 3) I have heartburn with fundraising as community service. It's fundraising that benefits the Troop, not others. 4) As a God and Country Counselor, this counts under PROTESTANT "God and Church" (confirmation age) award. Heck, it's mandatory from PRAY. I invite an RC Counselor to comment on "community service" for their religious award. 5) Again, as a God and Country Counselor, this counts under PROTESTANT "God and Church" (confirmation age) award. Heck, it's mandatory from PRAY. I invite an RC Counselor to comment on "worship service" for their religious award. On a personal note, 2 summers ago my son was J-staff at Cub District Day Camp. His workload was 40 hours service. His SM and Pastor broke the time down: 30 hours to parish confirmation community service, 6 hours against OA Ordeal (he had to fall out of day camp for his ordeal ... one work day off site), and 4 hours against his Life. Since he had two hours on the books from helping an Eagle, he met his six hours standing on his head. While I understand BobWhite's take, I'd rather find activities that have service requirements and encourage the youth to do the programs. That way, the positive reinforcement comes as distinct attaboys!(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

PE, Normally, we run 3 induction weekends a year, plus induct at each of 3 Camp Naish summer sessions. We have 56,000 youth in all our programs, BTW.(This message has been edited by John-in-KC)

Tamegonit had opportunity in 2004: Camp Naish OA Reservation is in Capital Construction, and LEC had to drop one induction weekend.

PE, Tamegonit Ordeal output is 1000+ per year. Induction weekends, the youth run 3-4 ceremonies of 100 candidates!

Having just re-watched the YP video, in-program Scouts OR under 21 Scouters + alcohol = YP issue; call Council.

One of the duties, as so many have mentioned, of the Troop Committee is logistic supportability (can we get the Scouts there in the first place)? To the specific trip at hand, I think the Committee has a legitimate duty to the SM and the PLC to ask: "What is your inclement weather destination? One week before Christmas is NOT a good time of year for a five hour drive to an overnight." [[AS AN ASIDE: I've been driving in Winter (vice Southern California where I grew up) for 20 odd years, and I still don't like to contemplate more than one hour driving in stormy conditions.]] At the same time, I have to compliment EagleinKY ... there is certainly enough lead time for the Committee, and individual parents, to consider a five hour drive in wintertime. The other key here is COMMUNICATION between the Chair and the SM. SM "The PLC is considering a trip to X." CC "That's a five hour drive. Are they building a plan B?" SM "No" CC "Is your intent to use a bad weather cancellation as a teaching point?" SM "Yes" CC "We can sell it to the Committee."