johndaigler

One of the districts in my council is doing this as an FOS fundraiser - no kids, no uniforms. "Business sponsored" cars competing in an open division contest. Apparently a cash bar will be available. jd

Engineering ain't what it used to be!!! It was a lot tougher to keep those old steamies and electrics going than these diesels and mag-levs!!!!!! jd

I'd love to see Eagles honored in ways like this more often. Problem is, Merlyn's right. There's no way this is a fair and open use of tax dollars. Could the state give scholarships to kids who do well at Vacation Bible School? Earners of Religious Emblems? Can Maryland justify leaving it up to the BSA as to whom is eligible to earn state sponsored scholarships? As much as we'd like to see Eagles and other scouts receive additional honors, benefits and awards -- it's pretty clear -- this wouldn't be bending rules, it would be breaking rules. There are a couple of reasons why a state legislator would try such a move, but the BSA ought to stand up, say thank you, but no thanks. I don't think we can be organizationally selective about when we want to be a private group and when we want to be a "public" group. jd Is mhagar from Maryland? What do we do when he wins a scholarship? What does the state do when he applies for the scholarship????

Just finished the Den meeting and sylvar/suzan centerpiece rocked! Instead of cutting tissue into 4x4s, I saved time by using blue and gold cocktail napkins. The boys just cut along the folds to get 4 squares from each napkin. It's probably not as airy as the tissue would be but the boys were able to work well with them. I haven't decided about adding the flags - we might just use the #75. We also did the Wolf cup favors from "Program Helps" - they worked out fine. It's a bit difficult to tie ribbon around the cup (even if you're not 8!), but what worked was using a Pringles chip can. Much better base to tie around and then the bow slips off the bottom of the can and up the cup. A spot of kid glue holds it in place. We used blue/gold ribbons together and then added stickers. We had an early release day from school today so the Den meeting started an hour early but ran till its usual finish time. With the extra time I added in one more crafty activity. We folded squares of green paper into tents. This version takes about 8 folds and two small pieces of tape. Before adding the finishing scotch tape the boys unfolded the paper and wrote "thank yous" to their parents then refolded the tents and taped them to hold their final shape. Stickers personalized the tents so we can tell them apart come BnG. Thanks guys!! jd

I think I'll be spending the morning getting the pieces and the afternoon Den meeting combining suzan and Sylvar's ideas. Tissue covered half-ball with flags and numbers! THANKS!!!! jd

LOL!!!!!!! Dan, Dan, Dan, . . . Your comment's target was obvious. Apparently, mine wasn't! Purcelce's post (I think it's pretty obvious he lifted that from elsewhere, but if you post it, you claim it!) insulted and complained about 80% of the nation. People who disagree with him are apparently idiots. But, I'm the one with the thin skin??? My bad! Actually, my skin is terribly thick - that's why I said what I said, and why I'm gonna say what I'm gonna say. Purcelce's sophmoric posting used humor to degrade and debase others. Sure, it was funny - like Howard Stern is funny. I saw the humor - I just try not to let that be my level of humor. Atleast, not too often!!! Do you let your Scouts make fun of others who wear clothes that are different?? Do you let your Scouts make fun of others who are economically challenged?? Do you let them call people who disagree with them "idiots"?? Sounds like Hazing to me. And, no, it doesn't matter that it was aimed out there into space, and no specific Scout or Scouter was targeted. Humor like that brings us all down to our basest levels. And, if you read all the posts you can see what's happening -- "I agree..." It worries me - so I said something. What's next? Blonde jokes? Pole jokes? Jew jokes? Cub families who can't afford uniform parts jokes?? Strangers who we've never met, but luckily, can judge based on their religion or sexual orientation jokes? I think it was a bad choice by purcelce to post that junk. He has the right to, and I have the right to respond. You? What did you bring to the table? Name-calling. Hey, thanks, we appreciate the contribute! If you really want to give purcelce's post some value, re-read Article II. Maybe it really is funny - or appropriate - or . . . There are a lot of ways to be funny. Should we let "humor" be a shield for words that are hurtful and divisive? I won't. But, then again, maybe I'm just thin-skinned. jd

Dan, I think purcelce was trying to be funny, don't you? It's true, apparently, we all annoy him, but I wouldn't go so far as to call him thin skinned! jd

Purcelce, Not really sure of your tone or your point. And, . . . I think . . ., you missed 3 people on your way to insulting everyone in the nation, whether you actually intended it or not. I couldn't think of anyone who always fit into your "OUR" category, or anyone who never fit into your "YOUR" category. I'm wondering if posters will ignore this or give you the multi-page divisive argument for which you seem to be begging. Have fun, (though I'd rather you didn't do it at my expense), jd(This message has been edited by johndaigler)

Interesting concept! Never heard of such a thing . . . I wonder if "subscribers" would be interested in honoring gravesites in such a way? jd

Unc, At first I thought you just needed a little bit more stress, high blood pressure or angst in your life. It's really just not all that accepted to stroll through life quietly singing, "Val-de-reeee, Val-da-raaaaa, val-da-ra-ha-ha-ha-ha - haaaaaaaa!", to yourself!!! Then I thought about it, and quickly diagnosed the situation as your lack of PRBSS! Post Red Beret Stress Syndrome has become more and more prevalent in Scouters in recent years -- but you, apparently, missed the PRBSS boat!!! I've been doing well with my PRBSS, but when I see DLs in tough spots I have momentary relapses! BelieveinScouts, you're in a tough spot, but there is light at the end of the tunnel - sometimes that light comes from within yourself. Be well, and be kind to yourself as you work your way through the issues. Try to tackle them as a series of small problems, rather than 1 gigantic one. Like climbing a set of steps - you can't jump to the top, but each individual step isn't insurmountable. Especially when you start getting a little help from others. Good Luck! jd

71, welcome!!! Cubs can do electives more than once, but should show growth with each effort. In the case of 2a, your boys might show significant growth by writing the skit themselves. jd

Unc, you crack me up! I have to write a 3 act play to say all the things posts like BiS's make me think and feel. You just toss out 50 words; minimize the stress level, offer a simple step forward and validate everyone's efforts and confidence. Making me a bit green... I'll bet you don't get lost very often! ... just crack me up ...

BeieveinScouts, WELCOME!! Wow, I don't really know where to begin. Scouters in sad situations like your's tends to make me a little crazy and angry. As you (all of you) read along, know that it's not you (BelieveinScouts) at whom the angst is aimed! It's not really possible to do this Scouting thing all by yourself. In fact it's against the BSA YP rules. You should not be meeting with boys without another adult present. "Cub" Scouting, in particular, is a family based program. It doesn't sound as if you're getting any support from parents or Pack Leadership, at all. Your Den should be split into two. Your CC and CM are responsible for finding an assistant for you and new Leaders for the other Den, and a pair of Den Chiefs. Your Cubs' parents need to be fulfilling their responsibilities to their sons. And, you say you're not really doing right by your son (or your personal finances) because of your attempt to help other people's sons???? I apologize for directness that borders on harshness but, "STOP!". Stop spending money you shouldn't. Stop prioritizing other people's sons. Stop breaking BSA youth protection rules. Stop worrying more about a group of families than they worry about themselves. Stop carrying the physical, financial and emotional load for a system that isn't supporting you in the way a BSA Cub Pack is supposed to. Stop trying heroic measures to keep your patients (the Den and Pack) alive when parents, by their indifference, or their inability to help, have emotionally signed the DNR order. Please, just, STOP. ... Ok, now you've come to a 'dead' standstill. (I always hear the Eagles' "Learn to be Still", playing in my head right about now) ... Take a breather, and have a drink - for me this step often includes a nap . ... Imagine that tomorrow someone is going to knock on your door and ask your son to join Cubs and you to be a Den Leader under the circumstances you know exist. What are you gonna do? ... Perhaps it's fixable - you can say, "I'll be your DL under the following conditions . . ." (of course, only you know what changes need to be made to make this situation doable) Perhaps it's not - it's probably time to look for a new Pack. I don't think all Packs are fixable. And, though Scouters are service oriented people, choosing Scouting over your family responsibilities and joy is never, IMHO, in the end, best for anyone - you, your family, or the boys you work with. The fact that you called it DL Burnout takes some of the blame onto your own shoulders. Stop doing that, too! I think being a DL is a lot of work, but it's way too much fun for Scouters to burn out. What DLs burn out on is all the stuff that isn't supposed to happen to DLs -- poor Pack Leadership is usually the core cause. You're not supposed to do it all. You're not supposed to Be Able to do it all. If the situation can't be fixed, then it's inappropriate to stay in it. Often enough, when a good Scouter threatens to walk away, enough support appears to keep them around and sometimes things turn out alright. Sometimes things are so broken, nobody efforts to keep the Scouter there and Units die in due course. If you have hope that the situation can be changed, I'd try talking (and basically making demands) to the following people who have responsibility to you as a DL. Cubs' parents Pack Cubmaster Pack Committee Chairperson Charter Organization Representative Pack Unit Commissioner District Commissioner District Executive (and some where in there, I'd be checking out nearby Packs to see if there are other answers available to you and your son) We all wish you well - and we hope Scouting finds a way to live up to its Promise to you. Let us hear the rest of the story. jd

It'll be worth the effort to find an additional DL and ADL. 17 isn't too big for one den -- it's two big for two dens!!!!! that group needs to split into 3. We split 16 into 8 and 8 and now we're 9 and 9 -- and mentally kicking ourselves for not creating the third Den.

sounds good - FYI, the Bobcat cannot be earned by Tigers. They can practice the knowledge and skills but the great BSA computer (or so Council tells me) will not recognize their achievement until the first day of their Wolf year.

Our pack would use the summer as a catch-all. Let the boys who need/want to continue working on the previous rank, do so. Let others who are ready and choose to, begin work on the new rank level. We don't allow the summer time for earning arrow points under the old grade level. In TundraHawk's scenario, boys could use the rest of this school year and some of summer to earn this year's rank badge. Or, if it's less important to some, let them begin work on the new rank at the beginning of summer. We wouldn't let them have a head start during Spring on the new grade rank, except they could, I suppose, bend the rules by "studying" or "practicing" skills and knowledge needed at the new level. And, of course, activities could not count toward both finishing one rank badge and the beginning of the new. jd

There's also Blue and Gold (yellow) jelly beans, Lindt Lindor chocolates (for the more mature Cubs in your Pack), and lots of others, too. We're trying to figure out how to use blue and yellow rock candy - we figure that's a bit more "75 years old" than some other choices. Does anyone know how comlicated it would be to make those rock candy lollipops? jd Another idea we're considering is the blue and Gold balloons, helium filled and weighted with the blue and gold candy. Centerpieces and party favors all in one!

Sorry, breakingout, we're on different pages. You're probably familiar with the Boy Scout Law -- Trustworthy, Loyal, etc. I thought THAT the list you were considering. I've seen this list traced to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a ~12th century monk who strongly supported the Chivalric Virtues of Knights. Though not the Seven Virtues (in opposition to the Seven Sins), the Scout Law is a list your Church will probably be familiar with, as well. I don't think I've seen Vrtues spelled out so clearly for Cubs. I'm sorry I don't think I can be of much help. In my research, most Scouts' Own and Scout Sunday materials are geared primarily at Boy Scouts, often using the Scout Law as a core reading base. I've found I've had to age down readings for Cubs. I'll keep thinking about this and get back to you if I come up with anything. jd

Laurie, Our thoughts, prayers and tears are with you and your family. jd

Welcome, Chicken Ranch!!! Hmmmmmm, occasionally consider doing in Roosters??????????????? (Is there a smiley thingy for a grin that's a little more wicked than the usual one????????) jd

WELCOME!!! jd

Breakingout, WELCOME!! Are you struggling with the public speaking or the everyday value of the Scout Law? Speaking effectively about all 12 chivalric virtues of the Scout Law in a single time and space might be overwhelming. It's life-encompassing aspect is what makes the Scout Law such a special list. I might suggest narrowing your focus to just a few. Other options might be: - bringing up 12 Scouts with each getting 60 seconds to discuss a single Law - expound on a single one in ways we don't usually think -- e.g. "thrifty" as it pertains not just to money but rather to our time, or our talents, or our emotions - search the net for "Scouts' Own" services. Often they will use the Scout Law as a starting point for verses, psalms and even non-Biblical readings and sayings that help highlight the individual virtues. Good Luck! Let us know what you decide to do and how it works out! Many readers, posters or not, will benefit from your experience. jd (This message has been edited by johndaigler)

But, the big kids don't dress differently than the littler kids. So it must not be clothes that create that "looking up".

Cubs: A little DYB'll do ya!

Hi, mjengels, I'm a Wolf DL. At den meetings, our boys play during the "Gathering" time and often during the "Activity" time. We don't play at the end. Many games are found right in the Wolf handbook and we also use the "games" in the Sports and Academics (Belt Loops)Book. One month we'll learn how to play Marble games, or Ultimate Frisbee, or Touch Football or Chess... Games can be found in several of the other CS resource materials. Have Fun jd