kraut-60

My Cubmaster back in 1966 had sons who were grown up and married at the time...was a great Cubmaster (his wife was a Den Mother). Both served Scouting until age and failing health curbed their activity. My 1st Scoutmaster in 1969 was a WW2 US Army vet, foundry worker, married (2 sons grown and in the military)...also chain-smoked, still was an effective Scoutmaster...continued as Scoutmaster until 1972 when my father stepped up as Scoutmaster (which he did until 1983 which at that time I had served 7 years on active duty in the US Navy). ScoutMomSD, you really shot yourself in the fo

I have read that insignia intended for youth are not worn by adult members of the Boy Scouts of America, and I can agree with it for the most part with one exception...I would like to see those who earn the Eagle rank be allowed to wear the rank patch until they reach age 21. I have seen several Eagle Scouts that would not remove the Eagle rank patch and replace it with the red,whit and blue stranded square knot. As I am not an Eagle, far be it for me to tell them they cant wear such a recognized and respected mark of achievment as represented by the rank badge (not the knot). Those Eagle

GaHillBilly wrote "if(you)are under 6' and wear a size 40 or larger pants, you are failing as a Scoutmaster" Wow, am I ever glad I only wear a size 38 and stand 5'10"...otherwise I'd be failing? The troop I serve in as Scoutmaster, has recruited 9 boys on average for the last 2 years...we still have some stop going to meetings.. some are active in sports and put Scouting aside for awhile, yet I see this as a part of Scouting that has always been. I joined the BSA in Jan.1969. The troop I belonged to had at best 8-12 Scouts at any given time. The "cool" kids were nowhere to be found

funscout; that is way too funny! (picture this)...Dead terrorist: What is this abomination?!! Which flea infested son of a camel herder has switched the virgins? I have to do WHAT?... WITH A MAN?... 72 MEN?? I should have never believed...

I am adamant that this should be decided by the PLC, not the troop committee...by deferring this to the troop committee, the scouts will see the TC as the authority within the troop,not the SPL and the PLC. The TC can advise the PLC, provided the PLC seeks their counsel, and the SM should be the primary advisor to the PLC in this matter as it is the SM who is the primary direct contact leader...running this matter through the TC will allow the scouts to see that the SM is not really the adult unit leader, and his/her authority may not be seriously taken as the final word in matters where

As Beavah suggested, talking with the PL/ASPL/SPL would garner more information regarding this Scout. I feel this is an instance where the PLC should be the authority in what outcome the scout in question receives as a "correction" or reprimand. Having the PLC decide this issue will surely run afoul of the hover parents if there are any in the unit this occurred, however I feel it will back up the boy-led premise we should be practicing...no shunting to the troop committee for a decision...no calling the DE for a ruling...let the Scouts who ARE the patrol and troop members decide the outc

If you want the color guards (those standing next to those carrying the US flag and unit flag) to carry an item that would convey the dignity a color guard should display, why not consider a staff? You know, a hiking type staff...they could carry the patrol flag(s) or the ribbons the patrols/troop have earned/won. Scouts should NOT carry or display an imitation firearm as a part of a color detail...as its been pointed out, its conceviable that the "rubber ducks" would'nt be carried properly or would be at best toys and be played with rather than add a sense of honor and martial digni

Civilian control...ah Beav, we already have that...are you proposing even more unneccesary civilian meddling in matters they have no business being in? Seems to me if we allow yet(more) civilian control and oversight authority with regard to military matters we may as well just surrender now and disband whats left of our military...then when the terrorists come calling, we can all hold hands and sing kumbahya and tell them what their rights are? Any enemy in arms against the United States of America, not in uniform is subject to summary execution...deal with the fact or ignore it, bu

With regards to the way prisoners are interogated and treated, Why does the American public feel it has a right to know all the intimate details of how its military carries out its missions? In this day and age and since Viet Nam, the news media has broken open stories that put our armed forces in a less than stellar light, which leads the citizens to the conclusion that they have a "right" to know EVERYTHING that goes on in government and the military....what crap! The citizens in this nation during the second world war were not provided with news media that spelled out every scheme or p

Hi rrclark1, I would leave the recruiter patch off as it is a patch meant for youth members. The "International" patch? Do you mean the World brotherhood of Scouting patch...the purple one we wear over our left pocket on the current uniform? If it is the same one, then I would also leave it off. An older uniform looks great when correctly badged, but I would advise that less is more when replicating a uniform of the olive-khaki (pre 1980). I am also in possession of several older uniforms that I will badge to reflect my current positions in Scouting (SM an RT Commish). The hard part about

The cards for merit badge(s) and ranks are normally bought at the Councils Scout shop...Is there anything prohibiting a troop from copying these or designing and using our own design? Has anyone out here done their own cards? If you did, were they well received?

The Scout; Exactly! What else would rankle an Englishman better than a Scotsman in charge...and an Independant Scotland! My Mums from Glasgow...I am a wee bit biased in favor of the Scots, even though I have german last name (hence the "kraut" moniker).

A Scoutmaster should NEVER refuse to have an SM Conf. once a Scout requests it. This SM is doing this Scout and others a dis-service if he operates this way...when a Scout asks me for a SM Conf. I am ready to sit down and listen to what he has to say.

Eamonn; Kindly inform Her Majesty that I/we shall agree to the terms previously described providing the following terms are accepted and carried out: 1) The Chunnel must be re-named "The French Connection" 2) DeHavillad Aircraft must immediatley begin building Mosquito bombers to ww2 specification and offering them at cost to avaiation merit badge counselors. 3) Boy George is to be kept in the Tower of London...preferably on the Tower green pecking for food with the ravens. 4) Monty Pythons Flying Circus must immediately be put back in production with ALL the original cast (being dead

E; you are pretty much correct regarding the district events being poorly attended in the fall due to outside of scouting activities getting precedence. Our Troop had a "Patrol" camp for the first weekend after school was back in session, we held it at a camp 6 miles out of town at a youth camp owned by the local United Way. We had lots of families that initially declined the outing due to sports conflicts (why does sports seem to take precedence over Scouting?)...but when they were told their sons could meet their soccer obligation and then come out to camp, well, we had half the troop a

Last year, I purchased a new Jac-Shirt, sized mens large. I trekked at Philmont in '06 and had purchased a bull patch at the Tooth of Time Trading Post after I finished the trek. I had the bull patch sewn on by a lady who is better with needle and thread than I. While pinning the patch on, we noticed that if the bull was aligned over the left pocket correctly, the bulls front hooves were about 3/16th-1/4 of an inch above the upper seam of the left pocket flap. We also took note that the last 1/2 inch of the bulls tail passed over the seam on the left shoulder. I beleive this lack of

Mr Boyce; Its a Scottish thing...only an English twit would suspect a kilt had any thing to do with sex(or a lack of it). Metrosexual...bollocks! Sounds like a bleedin' bar fo' barmy ol' men in trenchcoats!

Great topic! The kid that pulled this one should get this tent from here on out...I'll bet the other scouts call it the "dog house". Most kids of scouting age are absolutley fascinated with gross bodily functions, doesnt excuse the kid that did the dirty deed, but its entirely in keeping with the 12 year old mind set...I hope the unit that this occured in doesnt have a PC melt-down over it. Let the PLC decide what if any disciplinary measure should be taken. Oh, BTW...FDP is also known in the PC world as Replica biodgradable canine by-product (non-toxic, safe for use by children

Been on vacation for a few days here...glad to see this thread still running and healthy. I would offer one bit of advice I am aware of from my Scottish relatives...when one is not entitled to a given tartan and wishes to wear a kilt, the tartan of the Black Watch Highland regiment is worn. My aunts there in Glasgow were highly amused by the Utilikilt...they commented that only a daft yank would wear a garment called a kilt but without a tartan...and as my auntie told me " theres nae pockets ona kilt! Thats wot the sporrans fer.....bloody Yanks!" (Glaswegian phonics added).

Liz; My Scouts are very experienced "Pearl Divers"...we use the baggie eggs when we have a need to be moving out by 8am or earlier. We do plenty of dishes using the 3 tub method...one of my 1st class Scouts takes particular glee in training the new Scouts in how to do dishes RIGHT!

Packhound; For the same price as a pair of Scout pants? I'm interested in that deal...where and whats availible? My Mums from Glasgow, so I'd be willing to wear a kilt...plus I've got the hairy knees!

Not long ago at a district Roundtable, our new district chairperson announced that there was to be a ban on making freezer bag omelettes/eggs...she was almost near hysterical in her pitch that "some Scout would be sickened and die" from eating eggs prepared in a freezer bag in boiling water...she claimed that BSA had put out this new policy as a result of the nalgene/bisephenol-A(?) problem. Any validity to this? I went through Woodbadge with this lady and she is easily wound up, so I tend to take the info regarding a "ban on freezerbag/ziploc egg cooking" as a knee-jerk reaction at best.

Our Troop has had 9 new scouts join our troop this past spring and the spring of 2007. We lost 2 scouts from the "Class of 2007"...and none yet from the class of 2008. We have them in patrols where they learned together how to lead and feed themselves...we suffer through the sports-induced losses of what ever sport is in season...but we let all our sports-scouts now we'll be here when the season is over...Scouting season doesnt close. Keep 2 patrols...12 is way too big to be effective...2 patrols will allow more opportunity for the members to advance...especially the requirements for

Back to the American history part of this thread...Anyone here see the similarities between the state of our nation in the years leading to the Great Depression and now? Can we expect the recession/depression soon? Probably...very likely accompanied by civil-unrest brought on by massive unemployment and homelessness as a result of the economic meltdown of Sept 2008...the newly elected president will have to resort to drastic measures to restore order...likely to include federalization of National Guard units. Troops would be posted to keep order at grocery stores and gas stations...restr

BW; I am promoting the patrols in my troop to have no less than one patrol activity per month. I have told the Troop Committee that I require a plan from the patrol and the planned activity cannot interfere with a scheduled troop activity. I am also having an adult be present for my NSP and 2nd year patrols. I have told the PLC that I will allow adult free overnight camping for the 3rd year and up patrol after seeing thier plan. I told my 2nd year scout patrol that adult free camping will be considered when all patrol members are First Class Scouts. We havent had a true adult free patrol