local1400

Our Lord Jesus was surely Heaven-sent, To see that man does repent, From the right hand of the throne, No sin will He condone, All Scouts should ever be Reverent

G, is there a special knot patch for the G.O.B. Network? JK of course. I know we have discussed unit problems before but I am curious are there other troops in your area? And I am sure your son has many friendships within the unit which you obviously would not want ruined for him, but I know what it is like being the new guy and wanting it done right- it's not easy. We don't serve the boys by cutting corners, do we? What do they learn and what does that say about us and the future leaders of my beloved BSA?

I think Beavah is da top coppa in da bidness! I sure hope that new bundle of joy doesn't resemble the JASM! Edited part: Jokes aside, I have made a few mistakes myself before I became perfect so I will not pass judgement here but echo Lisabob and others about experience and maturity.(This message has been edited by local1400)

This thread has yet reached it's zenith, and that OGE is a true wordsmith, but one thing is sure, his Scout heart is pure, although his rhymes sometime are a myth!

Not really having a problem with uniforms here. The boys know it is expected and all our leaders are setting the example (minus a few Scout pants). I have a fifth printing, April 1950, Scout handbook which devotes four pages to the Scout uniform. One sentence says " The Scout uniform quietly says that here is a fellow who is ready to be 'helpful to other people at all times'". It also says the uniform stands for your character as a Scout, it stands for friendships, for service, and for the out-of-doors. The current handbook only covers a page and a half on uniforms. Try to get your boys to READ and FOLLOW the handbook. It is not just a place to gather checkoffs. Start with page 12-- "...putting on the uniform does not make a fellow a Scout, but putting on the uniform is a sign to the world that one has taken the Scout obligations and folks expect Scout-like acts from one wearing it." (3rd edition, 1927). Welcome and good luck.

Nah Gonzo- let's start it again, You are my only online friend, Let this thread live another day, So let's here it for the BSA, And to the rules that shall never bend!

Ahhh, theres something to be said for the sound of rain on canvas! Owl, I worked at a Scout camp for 4 years and never saw anyone using anything other than camp provided sleeping quarters.

Thats a toughie G. Obviously she is unaware of the patrol method, how it works, and Boy Scouting in general. It's high time she learned.

OGE, you only need to find Le Mcdonalds and hold up fingers for numbers. "Coke" is universal. G1 and I agree on the skill awards as we did in a similar thread a few months back but I was thinking the other day that I needed to earn the First Aid MB for FC. Now you need to "learn" bits and pieces for each rank. We should compare requirements over the years and pick the very best for each rank. And as far as continually using skills on each outing over and over, I don't wholeheartedly disagree with that, but repetition could lead to boredom with todays lads. Why go on that campout and build another inverted tripod tower when you can play x-box for three days? I would also like to see the time requirement for each rank extended (and that may cause some backlash) just a little. Enjoy Scouting a little while. Racing to make Eagle is just that, a personal goal that goes against the Patrol System a little. Also, restore the Leadership Corps and do away with excessive "phantom" POR. I have only ever seen 2 real Buglers in my time yet have seen many Bugler POR patches. And my last rant for this post is this: Get rid of NSP and integrate new Scouts into existing Patrols. Again, at the recent camporee, NSP is left to fend for themselves when properly using the Patrol method without an older boy or two to mentor and teach. 11 year old PL-give me a break. I've got underdraws with more experience than some of these kids.

E, just finished "Murder on the Appalachian Trail" by Jess Carr. Very well written true story. Looking for "Eight Bulletts" about 1 murder/1 attempted murder of female couple on A.T. in PA. Also get many books on audio for my commute and listen to a lot. Listened to "The Smokejumper" by Nicholas Evans and had to hear twice it was so well done. Got a hammock E?

Work. Dear uz2b-- while I personally don't like Lima beans, as an American I will defend their right to inhabit the earth environment. They should be studied for fuel use for the eventual replacement of corn when the corn supply is exhausted. Good grief man, think of YOUR childrens future! (Beans-gas!)

Steve, ahh zero and uh, no. I thought a blog was a place where brackfries and flogs lived on rillypads.

So glad his parole came through! Just kidding. I know, where does the time go? At least they haven't taxed spare time yet- only because they wouldn't make much on it!(This message has been edited by local1400)

Just curious Nike, next time will you do it the old-fashioned way with needle and thread?

While you make some very sound financial moves SP, I have to say as an officer of organized labor I would absolutely oppose the loss of jobs. America has lost enough jobs already. Less people employed = less income tax dollars which then = higher taxes for the rest of us! My council is in the black, as well as the neighbors. And I happen to like going to the council shops- friendly people work there. Maybe I should've mentioned that the council-shop-next-door is 5 minutes from my workplace. Adding OA lodges would only dilute the already dwindling number of Brothers (but certainly would bolster the collectors collections!). Maybe as an ASM I should get a paycheck? How about paying camp staff competetive wages equal to fast food? That should spell the end for my beloved BSA. Who could afford Scouts anymore if your kid was charged $5,000 for 1 week of camp or $200 week for meetings/outings? Compare it to daycare. I like the program- it has evolved to stay relevant. I don't mind the uniform-I just wish for more color and neckerchiefs (still useful for first aid purposes-met a lot of boys at a recent camporee who didn't have one for slings or splinting and were using whistles and belts to make splints). I will continue to support the program with my time and money but will only buy new uniforms as replacement necessitates. If I had a 70's green uniform in 2x, I would still be wearing it. My council is doing good, numbers are up, great camps- I can't complain. But I do respect your opinion Semper.

Only 5 regional service centers Semper? I am already 2 hours from MY council's service center (90 mins. from neighboring council). Plus, that would virtually eliminate the lucrative CSP and Lodge Flap business. And on that note, how would you handle OA Lodges? If there are 5 lodges, we would all have complete sets of flaps and strips eliminating a fun aspect of the program for most of us. My funny friend, Johnny Fish (not real name) always quips to me "Ever notice there are Lone Scouts, but no Lone Scoutmasters?"

Berber Carpeting. You could try Gum Terps, or spirit of turpentine. When I delivered and installed appliances 15 years ago we would use that to remove the sticky residue from the tape the factory used to cover corners, hold doors shut and so on. Never discolored the paint. A little dab on a cottonball. Good luck. Or try Goo Gone. Made from citrus and is all natural I think.

And around it goes. What would Brianbuf say? I'll agree to get rid of the knots. Some folks I know look like decorated Admirals! Silver Beaver was an honor, not a goal. I am not sure about a test for adult volunteers. Why would you turn away someone who was willing to give their time to enrich some kids life because they can't identify an Eastern Pine from a Red Pine from memory? So long as a person meets the current requirements of volunteering, is following the guidelines AND is fulfilling a vital purpose, why humiliate them with a test? I know a person that can't read but knows many outdoor skills.

G1- you use those bright orange balls in winter. The blackflies and mosquitos stop biting when it hits freezing. The golf carts have snowmobile tracks on them. And isn't that swing bad for your spine anyway? But as for the post, Scouting does pay. I have never been in jail for anything, but alot of kids I went to school have! I wasn't (and am not) perfect, but I'm no scofflaw. EDITED PART: Oh yeah, when the wind really howls off the mountain, you can drive a ball half a mile!(This message has been edited by local1400)

GWD and Lisa, thanks for the info. I don't see a problem personally with an extra "mascot". It is much better than cancelling an outing-don't let those boys down. It's not their fault one Dad is being a Dad to ALL his children (or Mom/her)-they should not be punished when no one else will step up! But what Chip has described with the hordes of cousins, aunts, and the papergirl too is just plain wrong.

$52 bucks Gonzo? Yeah bro, you gotta move up here. Double or triple that. Good thing I've got a strong back. Strong like moose.

You can cook anything you like. Regular food is fine. Try reflector ovens if you gotta "oven" something. As long as you have good dry bags and the boys ain't horseing around, everything should be fine and dry. I have only flipped a canoe once-during the requirements of the MB.

One 16 year old in my troop just needs to remove the staples. I am not sure if the rust is permanent.

Its Me- I will have to re-read my 1958 (and favorite version) SM handbook and see what it says. Maybe it is no longer applicable because kids spend more time in school and at non-Scouting activities these-a-days then 75 years ago. I'm curious what vocational leanings were discussed during the great depression (as opposed to the current enormous depression) when so few jobs were available?

Oh Gonzo, oh the shame. Yes, I've seen it done with a troop where He/she were both leaders and need to take an extra little one too and that's fine. GWD, Lisabob, any other young'uns like that for you ladies in that same boat?