ManassasEagle

www.scoutdirect.com

Went to Tuckahoe a couple years as a Scout (mid 70's) but never as a Webelos. We took our Webelos to Camp PMI at Goshen for both of their years. As Scouts, now, we've been back to Goshen (Bowman) for the past five years. Would highly recommend PMI for your Webelos.

Hal: I have to agree with you about Bowman, we just returned

this past Saturday from our annual week there. Camp Bowman is designed from the bottom up to be the "patrol method" camp and it works!

"Here Kitty, Kitty" on a campout

from one of the camps at our Council's scout reservation...

"such as Engineering, Nuclear Science, Computers, Electronics, and Photography. Come on in and enjoy the air conditioning."

...and you wonder why this particular camp is referred to as Webelos III

"viewing" an Eagle BOR is very different than "serving as a member". It's common for the SM (or an ASM) to introduce the candidate to the BOR and then be asked if they (the SM) would like to observe. The SM does not participate (serve as a member) but is more than welcome to observe (view).

Oh great! The conference was last night and now there come a flurry of posts

Actually, I do appreciate all the suggestions. The conference went great and it turns out that we did cover just about everything that has been suggested in this thread (no uniform inspection here either).

I'm proud of this Eagle candidate and I made sure to let him know that too.

Looks like I'll have an opportunity to have my first one of these next week (the candidate is the SM's son so I (ASM) get to do it). Anybody have any good suggestions for things that ought to be covered. Seems this could be a good time for a little "above and beyond" compared to conferences for the lower ranks.

I read that as "newer switchback pants" meaning the switchback pants which are newer than the old style "non-switchback pants".

"6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb"...another 6 to condemn those 6 as anal-retentive"

...which then leads all the anal-retentive types to get in a big argument as to whether it's "anal retentive" or "anal-retentive"

Freecycle.org is another place worth checking. In fact, if you had been on the Manassas Freecycle site last week, you would have seen a Cub shirt, and a complete male adult uniform

We just returned from a week at Camp Bowman of Goshen Scout Reservation (NCAC camp in VA). Been going to Goshen for years. There are six camps there: PMI and Ross are for Webelos I & II; Olmstead is for Boy Scouts although, since it has a dining hall, it's really for Webelos III; Bowman and Marriot offer a choice of "heater stack" or patrol cooking; Baird is the base camp for the Lenhok'sin High Adventure trekkers.

My wife and I are both Tech alumni and we currently have two nieces (Junior and Freshman) attending. Thankfully, both are fine.

Ours takes that one further. Upon joining, a Scout is presented with a troop necker with custom "troop logo patch". This first necker is grey with blue trim around the perimeter. Once a Scout reaches First Class, he is presented with the same necker only the trim is red. Finally, if/when Eagle is earned, the necker has gold (yellow) trim. Same scheme is used for Troop Scouters based upon what rank they had earned as a youth.

John-in-KC said...

>Thirty areas where a man or woman feels he has

>a particular expertise and passion. That sure

>seems to be a lot.

I think "thirty areas" is a misleading way to look at it. For instance, I'm an electrical engineer by degree and vocation and I'm registered for Electricity, Electronics, Energy, and Engineering. That's four merit badges but really only one "area". Likewise, Bird Study, Env Sci, Gardening, Mammal Study, and Nature takes care of five merit badges with only one additional "area". Real quick like, I'm up to 21 merit badges but those cover only five "areas". I don't consider that unreasonable at all.

Our SM was out of town this week so I, as one of several ASMs in attendance, got "volunteered" at the last second to do the Scoutmaster Minute. I popped out something off the top of my head, and lo and behold, the Scouts actually listened and "got it". Here's a cut'n'paste from the Scribes' Troop Meeting Minutes...

------ begin Cut'n'paste ------------------

Mr. K mentioned something for the scout masters minute. On the spot he came up with, "Would you guys like to wear your uniform to school one day?"

Many scouts shouted out and screamed, "NO!!"

"Why not?" said Mr. K

"We don't want to be teased." replied the scouts.

"Well then you know what it is like when you tease the other scouts in this troop."

Great speech Mr. K. Very on the spot.

------ end Cut'n'paste ------------------

Our Troop does Timberline Resort in West Virginia every year. Go to http://www.timberlineresort.com/ They have group programs especially for Scout groups that even include merit badge sessions if you want it. Only thing is, they're probably already booked for most of this coming season.

Don't have either but I do own an Alps Cascade. The difference between it and the Denali seems to be that the Cascade _does_ have the extra pockets. I've been completely satisfied with the fit and the quality of my Cascade. I've got other Alps equipment and all of it is top quality (and the ScoutDirect.com pricing can't be beat).

oldsm- what you said...

"Rather than dwell on cost, train the scouts to sell the program: "supporting scouting", "helping me earn my own way", "helping boys scouts", etc. It's important for people to realize that they're not so much "buying popcorn" as they are "buying scouting"."

...would seem to be in direct violation of Item #4 on the BSA "money-raising" application. It states...

"If a commercial product is to be sold, will it be sold on its own merits and without reference to the needs of Scouting, either directly (during sales presentations) or indirectly"

I think you're selling "cub scout / boy scout level" boys way, way short. Yes, maybe they won't "get" every nuance but, like you said in your original post, most adults don't either. As one of the Aims of Scouting is fostering citizenship, there's absolutely no reason anyone should be looking for reasons for discouraging Flag Retirement ceremonies.

Looks like item #1 of the Cub Scout Joining Requirements disqualifies him...

"Cub Scout Joining Requirements

A boy must...

1. Complete the first grade, or be 8 years old, but be younger that 11 years old.

2. Have the written consent of his parents or guardian.

3. Register with the council and pay the national registration fee.

4. With his parent or guardian, complete the Cub Scout application. He must sign the pledge that shows he has read the Cub Scout Promise and Law of the Pack, and promises to try to live up to them. He also must promise to do his best to be a good Cub Scout. The parent signs an agreement to help with advancement and activities."

scoutldr - Thanks, I've looked at the "stepping on toes" issue and, at least around here, it boils down to the Public Libraries and two used bookstores. The Public Libraries do have periodic "book sales" but they don't collect anything. They're just selling off the extra copies they own. You know, when the latest bestseller comes out, they need hundreds of copies but, a year or two later, they don't need nearly that many so they sell them off. As for the bookstores, one deals in rare first editions and such so no worries there. The other one is one where people can come in a "sell" them their old books. The bookstore then puts these on the shelves and "resells" them, presumably at a profit. This is where I would most likely unload any collected books that don't sell - probably wouldn't hurt to talk to them beforehand to keep everything on the up and up.

sweetspiritpamh- Your mentioning "watching movies" makes for a good suggestion. In addition to collecting people's used books, why not ask for old videos too. Videos, like the books, would be in the spirit of the "yard sale" without all the storage issues that come from all the larger items that "yard sales" usually include.

Trevorum- Yes, the .50/paperback 1.00/hardback prices do seem to be what you see at typical yard sales. The used bookstore in town sells used paperbacks for generally $2.00 and used hardbacks for $4.00 and every time I've been in there, they've been doing a booming business. So maybe we could get away with prices somewhere in between those two - hopefully high enough to net a meaningful profit but low enough that people will buy. On the other hand, I guess we could use the Trails End Popcorn model and charge $10 for paperbacks and $20 for hardbacks, huh

Sorry, maybe "laziness" wasn't the best wording for me to use. What I'm really interested in is whether or not there is some reason for lining with tin foil other than, how should I put it, "cleanup avoidance".

I'm thinking something along the lines of having the scouts distribute hang-tags on doors in their neighborhoods asking people to clean out their bookcases and donate their used books. The scouts would then collect them all and later have a "Used Book Sale". This could be either standalone or maybe at one (or more) of the Old Town Festival or other community type events. Any leftovers could even be sold to a local used bookstore.

Any thoughts on something like that?

What's up with lining your cast iron dutch oven with aluminum foil? I've seen a couple of other troops do it and, when searching the internet for dutch oven recipes, it looks like at least half of the sites start with "line your dutch oven with tin foil".

The only reason I've heard for doing this is simple laziness. They don't want to have to clean up but, if you take proper care of your cast iron, clean up is a breeze. Plus the foil seems to sometimes defeat the purpose (I've seen it lined all the way up and out so the lid won't even seat right).

Is there maybe some other legitimate reason for lining with tin foil that I'm missing?