LeCastor

I literally don't know how to respond to this statement but I feel like I need to say something. So I'll just say...WOW. I was born in Plains, GA during the Carter Administration and was held by Jimmy Carter when I was a baby. His presidency is often thought of as "ineffective" by so many but he was/is a good, honest man. And I would prefer if my elected officials were honest and didn't treat people poorly. But I'm a bleeding liberal, obvi...

This is interesting. When Scott Walker was elected governor of Wisconsin I wrote him a letter asking him to uphold the values of Scouting. (He's an Eagle Scout.). He never wrote me back! Eagle Scouts are human. We all have flaws and politics is a game. I can't get too worked up about it.

I have to be honest. Sometimes this forum gets me down and I have to leave for a few days. We tend to blow our own bugles a little too much. But as far as the future it concerned, I wrote a letter to all members of my Troop explaining that after four years I will be stepping down as Scoutmaster at the end of this year. My projects will then be to help build the Troop as I serve in the role of unit membership chair on the committee and help build the district as I serve as vice-chair of membership on the district committee. But my main source of excitement now is the Venturing Crew I

Thanks, Cambridge. If you look back a few posts I did say "You are correct". I then said that my Scoutmaster friend had a Troop where uniforms and ideals weren't popular. That is not in reference to you or your Scouting group or how I promote Scouting. Your point about showing youth having fun and adventures is valid, no doubt. However, when we are talking to parents we don't want to say, "well, we're not going to use the Scout Oath and Law around here. We're just a high adventure club". Likewise, we're not going to say that we don't wear uniforms around here either because, well,

Naive? I've been called worse. Uniforms aren't for formal occasions. And the Ideals aren't to be hidden.

Basically, it's like, "don't you tell me how to raise my child! I'll take care of that on my own." I think it has to do with the membership policy, to be perfectly honest with you. It's a pretty big deal around here.

Oh, you're so skeptical! Who's being negative now??

Chris, you are absolutely correct. In order to no longer be invisible we need to be...well...visible. One of things I've been doing lately is submit to the local fee neighborhood papers photos of our Scouts doing service in the community. This is free advertising and I've heard from people throughout the community that they read my articles and admitted they didn't realize Scouts were still out in the world doing Good Turns. Can you believe that?! Yes, negative press stays in ppl's heads longer than the positive stuff.

I am very excited about our new Venturing Crew! And also excited that I will, in fact, be able to take the crew committee challenge training in March at our area Venturing conference. The youth are really into it so far and it's only been a month. It's a great way to keep Scouting fresh for the older guys and now their sisters can finally join them! (Oh, and I can now share this experience with my wife who wasn't totally into Boy Scouts.)

Well, I've heard of trying to "find yourself" but this goes way beyond that!

You know how Lem wears the First Class pin on his sweet, sweet plaid shirts in Follow Me Boys? Well, I started doing that exact same thing (even with plaid shirts...but not because of Lem...I'm apparently a "lumbersexual") when I go to social outings. People always notice the First Class pin and ask, "hey, why are you wearing that Boy Scout pin?" When I say, 'well, I'm a Scoutmaster here in M...and I help change lives'. They really can't argue with that! It's been a positive thing and I continue to sport that pin more and more. Matthew, those folks who ride your donkey about the memb

Thanks, Jason. It's definitely a good feeling. I was sad that the PL and APL both declined the invitation, though...At least their fellow Patol-mates will tell them all the cool things they did/saw on Saturday!

LOVE THIS.

Wee-ooh, wee-ooh, wee-ooh... Where's Merlyn?!

Hi, scoutldr, I had the same thought when I read the subject line. However, Learning For Life seems to be so much removed from our traditional units that it wouldn't do much "harm" to our image in the community. If Boy Scout Troops were suddenly doing all of the military drills, etc. then that'd be whole different kettle of fish or ball of wax or whatever... LeCastor

I am happy to announce that 1/3 of the Atomic Tacos Patrol showed up at the trailhead this morning along with a few dads. We took advantage of the warm temps (low-20s) and hiked around a marsh area. The Scouts pointed out evidence of animal tracks: raccoons, deer, and turkey for sure. It was a lot of fun once we got going. One of the Scouts said, "the sooner we get this done the sooner I can go home." But that same kid soon got lost in the fun of the hike and started searching out tracks and scat. I love when experiments like this work out well! I'm one happy Beaver!

Wow, and all I want to do is make it possible for teenagers to go backpacking...

The beauty of nature includes warm and low temperatures, T. I consider one Scout in attendance a success.

On Monday during my SM minute, I told the two Patrols that I'd be at the trailhead of a local county park this Saturday at 10:00am with doughnuts if anybody wanted to join me. Several said they had prior engagements but one Scout has said he and his dad will be there! We're talking February in WI here and it's pretty cold right now. But this guy's coming out! We're going to look for tracks in the snow and listen to the sounds of winter. It's going to be great!

Thanks, dhendron, for the PP. I looked through it this morning. Back in December I took the Advisor training but missed the chance to the Venturing Committee Challenge. I'm hoping the local CR Area 7 Venturing Conference will offer in-person training in March.

Stosh, that certainly sounds "messy" to me...And trying to put lipstick on a pig, now THAT'S messy!

I agree. This is a mess.