local1400

Welcome Sandy!!! Don't be afraid to jump in and ask questions.

Welcome Boothill. I am glad you are getting involved not only for your sons sake but you have seen the truth about older scouts. It seems to me we are gearing Scouts to younger boys because thats who we have now. Keeping 14 year olds and up interested has become a challenge and unfortunately they fall to the wayside (happened to me at 16!) I have heard of some troops who have programs for different levels of age in the troop. I am not sure if I agree with that since I am one who doesnt think patrols should be set up by age groups. 11 year old PL's can not usually lead 11 yearolds! You didn't mention your state, but I am sure you can find things to do nearby thats a little "more" than you've been doing. Good luck, thank you for volunteering, welcome to the forums and come back every day. This is a wonderful place to exchange ideas!

Calico, I'll bet you were thrilled all day that you set an example that was followed. Great for you! I hope this troop remembers your service the next time they hit the outdoors. You can camp in my "backyard" anytime!!!!!!!

Trevorum and John-in-KC, you guys are right that having the Scout purchase his own replacement handbook may teach him some responsibility and other lessons, I don't believe a Scout should show up at a meeting without one. John, maybe we took better care of our books then. We live in a disposable world these days but back then I was taught to take care of what I had. Just traded in my 10 year old car and it broke my heart. I would've kept it forever but just no longer feasible.$$$$$! But I have a 1950 BSA handbook, 68 SM h.b., my 85 BS h.b., plus 77 Fieldbook. All well read and slightly worn, but otherwise in great, useable shape. Perhaps you too were taught to appreciate what you have and money doesn't grow on trees (evidenced by those $200 boots from that thread)!

Eagle1984, you cant be done with this thread because you started it! OGE-- Those boys in the suits and sunglasses sure were nice. They just wanted to get to know me by taking me for a ride, they got me some coffee and cigarettes, took me to some place I dont know where, but they said they were farmboys from Virginia! Yes, I know feds are at my work too. Ever see the CFR49 for transportation? Parts 200 to 399--1,176 pages of pretty small type!

Now see, I knew OGE would have it. "Processing Fees?" now that has me wondering. But I suppose if the IRS is writing the rules, well then... I better be careful before I disappear...Who's knocking at the door this late at night

Living in the Whites is great! In my backyard I have over 763,000 acres of National forest to play in. Of course we have lots of tourists coming here to view this natural beauty and I cant understand why people will drive for hours to days (esp. with the gas prices!), hike for hours and then leave their garbage behind! I hiked the Arethusa falls trail several times last year and picked up trash each time. I met one group who were all carrying open beer bottles for their beverage! Very few were what I would call prepared for the trip of only 3 miles round trip but the Scout troop I met one day all looked good and ready. I met them while I was coming out so hopefully there was no trash for them to pick up!

gwd- I was only quoting from the book. I am not sure about the project acceptance or denial. Has any one ever encountered this situation before? I must defer to someone else like OGE, emb21, John in KC, guys?

I haven't read Backpacker in years. I thought it turned into a sales brochure of all the latest gear.

I assume that the Red Cross is involved and they sell the blood for profit. Check the book BOY SCOUT REQUIREMENTS 2006. On page 20 under SELECTING LEADERSHIP SERVICE PROJECTS and under EAGLE RANK it says " Eagle Scout service projects involving council property or other BSA activities are NOT acceptable for an Eagle service project. The service project also may NOT be performed for a business, be of a commercial nature, or be a fund-raiser." On page 21 it says "The Scout must submit his proposal project plan and secure the prior approval of his unit leader, unit committe, and district or council advancement committe, and the organization benefitting from the effort, to make sure that it meets the stated standards for Eagle Scout service projects BEFORE the project is started. This preapproval of the project does not mean that the board of review will accept the way the project was carried out." Straight from the book my friends.

Buy him a new book ASAP and then have him "pay you back" through whatever means possible to you whether it be chores or whatnot. A Scout should be without his scout handbook as much as a Pastor should be without his Bible.

"Spawn till you die". Ahh, I gave up on that dream shortly after the honeymoon! OOops-- I hope I didn't catch what Ed Palmer has!(This message has been edited by local1400)

"Spawn till you die". Ahh, I gave up on that dream shortly after the honeymoon!

Maybe we should have a nonreunion and brawl-for-it-all. Is O.G.E in the Champs or the Challengers corner? Im coming in at 5ft 11 and 240 (ok 275 BUT I am big-boned!)Hey Pack, I never earned Insect study MB--how do you tell the difference between male and female WASPS anyway?(This message has been edited by local1400)

I often refer to my old 9th edition BSA handbook (1985 printing) for all my answers. On page 51 under SCOUT UNIFORM it says 'Your uniform is part of the thrill of being a scout. Put on your uniform and you feel ready for hiking, camping, and other active Scout events.' Under THE PARTS OF THE UNIFORM it says 'The Scout uniform consists of cap, beret or broad-brim hat, shirt, trousers or shorts, belt, socks or stockings, shoes or hike boots.' 'Throughout the world, the neckerchief is the mark of the uniform. Its color tells what troop you belong to.' On page 52 under WEARING THE SCOUT UNIFORM it says ' Wear your uniform proudly. Wear the complete uniform correctly at all Scout events: Wear it at all patrol and troop meetings, hikes, camps, and rallies. Wear it when you appear before a board of review or a court of honor. Wear it when you take part in any Scout service project. Wear it during Scouting Anniversary Week in February.' Has this changed in the newer printings of the BSA handbook? I am not a uniform enforcer and some kids just dont have the financial resources to have all the uniform parts. I can only set the example by proudly wearing my uniform fully and correctly.

Wow, how did we stray so far off the topic of this thread?

LongHaul, after reading all the Owassipe posts, I think F.O.S. takes on a new meaning in your council and I ain't talking French Onion Soup but more like Full Of Something!

This is a very sad situation for all of scouting. Maybe thats why I see so much Owasippe stuff on ebay these days? Can anyone tell me if the camp is open during all this trouble or is it in "limbo"? jkhny writes 'dues to national declined 30% or more, council contributions dropped 40%, assets decreased by 30%, and adult leadership dropped by a few hundred'. Well, thats exactly what they want in order to show a need to sell! Plead poverty and get rich--thats what America has come to. My union recently had to go to arbitration over 1 percent for our collectively bargained wage increase! It sounds like the CAC and BSA is no different than any other greedy corporation in this country. Sign me Proud to be president of my Union--local1400. I would suggest that those of you in the CAC who are keeping us updated to post the email and snailmail address so many here can send letters of support to those in charge to save a piece of scouting history. Also, has anyone approached the National Historic Register people? Sometimes you can outfox the fox! My union this past summer flooded the National Mediation Board website with over 50,000 emails and shut them down so we would be heard.(This message has been edited by local1400)

I remember my councils' camp would keep partial records on file at camp until the end of the next camp season. Any unfinished partials were discarded then. Perhaps this goes on elsewhere and thats the notion behind a "one year rule"?

Sorry for dragging this up again, but I just wore them last night for the first time. Overall I love them. They do seem a little long- touching the floor a bit, and they kinda flare out too much at the bottom which is OK on disco night. I needed some polypro liners for the cool weather. But I do have pants/shorts just like these I have had 2 years now and it's all I wear in summer when not at work. I just wanted to pass along from experience that if you wear just the shorts for extended periods make sure to wash the leggings too because my other brand "shants" don't match anymore! The shorts are faded and the leggings are darn near factory color!

The troop of my youth had the crotch, or "V" of a birch tree- white birch, that had 12 holes drilled for each point of the scout law. I guess it is similar to Scout Nut's. The bottom was flat and the branch rose up at an angle from the crotch. The SM would light the candle at the lowest end first, then call out "A scout is trustworthy" and a reader from the back of the room would recite the meaning of the point. It was very impressive to watch. I cant remember what we had for the Oath, but the Law birch I do!(This message has been edited by local1400)

Any increase in numbers is good, but the retention of numbers is the trick! We have one scout who is reeling in friends like salmon up the river. But heres my little theory on the much recently discussed "decline in membership". My father is one of 12 children. He has five children, who have begotten TWO children. My wifes mother is one of 16 children (not Irish or Catholic--go figure?)who begot three children which trickles down to four children. So? There is less scout aged kids around who have much more choices than some of us did 20 or more years ago. I played baseball and did scouts for ten years, but baseball practice was about a half hour before game time and an hour on weekends. Now practice is a daily thing for months on end. But that's just my 1/50th of a buck.

Welcome to the forum Chip! Lot's of good advice and certainly some opinions here too. I am also a believer of the patrols'having seperate areas for tents and cooking. Problem is each outing we get 2 or 3 from a patrol going and thats a lot of gear and time and food that is not being properly utilized. I think you will find good patrol info with diagrams and photos in the Boy Scout handbook and fieldbook. I use my old 80's versions still and that info is still good! Drop in the forums often- soon you'll be addicted like me.

In the last few days every time I click the "Todays Active Topics" section I get the ol' PAGE CANNOT BE DISPLAYED. Is something I'm doing wrong or is there something going around?

Hunt-- We had uniform inspections after the opening of each meeting performed by the SPL, ASPL, & JASM. When I was in leadership I was a very thorough inspector. The troop I am currently involved in does not do an inspection. ( I have only been involved with this troop about a month and am still observing the goings-on.) At the end of the scout year the patrol with the most points was treated to a special camping weekend where the Adults did all the cooking and cleaning and just really served the patrol so they could have fun doing whatever they wanted.