Mike Long

Both links break.

How about this one?

http://pages.towson.edu/romans/philmont/philmont_fires_2002.htm

They also have a link the page I posted.

I found an excellent fire map online. This is a big one and getting bigger.

http://www.earthanalytic.com/NENM_Fires.php

Being a spiritual guide is an easy job?

Those "of the cloth" are the hardest working and most dedicated people I know. Please don't belittle their contributions.

Please excuse me if you know some of this already.

First off some common definitions so we can be on the same page

Screen: Screenprinting mesh pulled taughtly over a wooden or aluminum frame.

Stencil: The emulsion coating on the screen that actually carries the image.

The artwork question first.

The black will print and the white will not. Lets say you took a white sheet of paper and wrote BSA on it in black. All you want to print is the letters BSA and you intend for the white area of the paper to be T-shirt (or whatever you are printing on)

Screen prep:

Ok assuming that you have or have built a screen. The first thing to do is abrade the screen mesh. Get some comet and a plastic scrub brush and throughly scrub the screen and rinse with clean water until no cleaner residue or suds remain. This is necessary to remove any oils or contaminants in the mesh and also roughs up the mesh very slightly as to give it a "tooth" that the emulsion will adhere too. This is necessary even if the mesh is brand new as there will be contaminants on if from the manufacturing process.

Let the screen dry in a place without much airflow (no breezes or fans)and protected from stuff that might fall on it like dust. Anything that gets on your screen now will cause pinholes that will allow ink to break through your stencil.

Everything from this step forward MUST be done in a red lighted room. ANY exposure to light will ruin the emulsion.

Once the screen is completely dry coat the screen evenly with the emulsion. A scoop coater works bestfor this. It is important to apply an even coat of emulsion. To coat the screen first coat the side of the screen that will contact the shirt and coat it with one even pass. Do not stop or change speed. Then coat the ink side of the screen using the same technique. Let the screen dry in a flat level position with the ink side up under red light or in complete darkness.

How the image is made:

Your artwork is made into what is called a "film positive" the film pieces you use on an overhead projector are film positives. What you positives will look like is a clear piece of film with the letters BSA in black on it. You will then take that film positive and place it (tape it) on the SHIRT SIDE of a prepared screen (meaning coated with emulsion and dried).

Then you will take the screen and expose the emulsion to a strong light source. The light needs to pass through the positive. The black sections on the positive (the letters BSA) will block the light from hitting the emulsion. VERY IMPORTANT: The black information on your film positive needs to be as opaque as possible. Hold it up to a light. If light passes through you will have problems getting a good stencil.

The emulsion that is exposed to light cures (hardens) and the area you blocked with the positive (BSA) does not cure. You then remove the positive You may now leave the red lite room and wash the screen with strong spray of water. The uncured emulsion will fall off the screen leaving you with a negative stencil. Pat dry with a lint free towel and allow to dry. You can even use a fan now.

When dry look at the screen with a light source behind it and use some of your extra emulsion and a small brush to fill in any pinholes or thin spots in the stencil. If you don't ink will break through and onto your shirt. We used to take small pieces of card stock and coated the non-printing areas with another coat of emulsion to be sure. It's a good way in ensure a strong screen. When your touch up is done just let the emulsion dry and bring it out in the sun for a couple of minutes to harden it.

Hope this helps. If you need anymore info just shout. If you click on my profile you can go to our troop site and email or call me directly from there.

When we were smaller every active adult except the SM sat on review boards.

In a perfect world the BSA approved structure and methods would be in place in all troop because everyone would be tripping over themselves to volunteer.

Here in the real world we all make do with what we have. If you don't have the support to function at full capacity you function as best you can, move forward with geting the troop where it needs to be and don't worry about it.

Pulling in people from outside the troop and scouting to sit on review boards is more trouble than it is worth. Think about the time needed to coordinate so that there won't be big delays in boys advancing.

Are there any former members of the Troop that aged out that would be williing to come back and sit on review boards? Sounds like a great job for aged out Eagle Scouts if you have any.

NJ I also see that difference. More boys Vs. more boys by my review date.

That in my mind does call into question the motivations of some individuals and wether those motivations are in the best interest of the Scouting movement. I think that the latter motivation is not in our best interest or in the spirit of scouting.

Much the same, Scouting has not become a mere numbers game although there are some within our ranks that might be going that direction.

Get another unit leader to fill out the paperwork and then have them present it to the unit leader to sign. Once signed then send it out yourself.

Has scouting become a business for numbers / money?

In my view, No.

Numbers are a good way of judging the health of anything. The higher the numbers the higher the likelyhood that things are going well. This is a common and accurate method of judging effectiveness.

I also don't see anyone getting wealthy off of scouting. Certainly not any DE I have ever seen. Frankly the only well-off Pro Scouters I have met were well-off because they retired from very successful careers and could now afford the pay cut to be Pro Scouters.

Anderson, you have done everything that I would have done and I'm not sure what more you can do except keep asking. I'd also make it a point to be very observent as some people with loose morals tend to have loose lips and eventually spill the truth.

Screenprinting you say?

Yes, I did it professionally for about 10 years. I'm a master screenprinter.

I need more info before I can help though.

1. Have you printed before or are you asking because you have no experience whatsoever?

2. Camp? Do you mean summer camp?

I don't think such a service exists so it's just going to be legwork to get it done.

I do know that in North Chicago there is the Great Lakes Naval Training base (Exact correct title uncertain but I lived there when I was little) that you could contact either the base or the troop they charter.

Not to mention the fine Scouters present here who are more than willing to help.

Right gang?

If y'all were going to seabase then you'd have north florida covered.

A burn ban IS a big deal.

There have been burn bans in effect here in Florida off and on since the '98 firestorm. At its highest level all heat sources are outlawed. This includes campstoves, contained grills, lanterns ect. cold camping only.

No it doesn't mean you can't camp. We still do. It just means you have to reconsider your techniques.

Contrary to popular misconception LNT doesn't mean no fires it means to carefully consider how and where you do have a fire and to consider if you should have one. You should be using LNT at EVERY camp, period.

www.lnt.org

Well there is always the possibility that the wallet never made it to the meeting at all. I would not assume that there is a thief in your midst just yet. I have left many things in my pockets that have fallen out unnoticed when I took them off. Has anything else of value dissapeared at a meeting?

Plus if this meeting was last night perhaps the person (if any) who accidentally picked up the wallet doesn't realize they have it yet.

I took rifle my first year, so did the other guys I joined with.

No ill effects.

A situation like this just screams for a Den Chief to work with these boys.

I have to agree with Sctmom. Use the skills they were taught and have fun with them. I would think that activities would be easier and more enjoyable now that advancement is covered. You can just concentrate on having fun.

What kid is bored by fun?

Wow, I only looked at the Boy Scout joining requirements and my response to go forward hinges on the accurate completion of the AOL. Unfortunately that has not been met.

I agree with Bob in all aspects.

The council assumes that units faithfully and accurately conduct advancement in accordance with the methods of the BSA. The task of doing this is the domain of the Cubmaster and unit committee.

Yes they can enroll in Boy Scouts.

You are correct there is no "and" in the requirements. They only need to satisfy one of the conditions and they have done so by completeing the AOL.

Congratulations and welcome to Boy Scouting.

If the camp has a first year camper program then be sure he takes it. That is the biggest bang for the buck.

As far as merit badges, First Aid, swimming, any handicraft badge (basketry, leatherwork, metalwork ect.) Indian Lore, camping, cooking, pioneering, fishing, some of the ecology badges that aren't too academic are all good badges for a first year scout to take. As for all the watersports badges I would reccommend doing swimming first but it isn't required that the scout do so. I typically steer scouts towards swimming and first aid, both invaluable skills. Archery might be a good one too depending on the scout.

Rifle shouldn't be a problem as far as his size as the rifles are 22's and have a very minimal kick at worst. I think they reccommend the badge to older scouts for maturity reasons.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Oz I do that do! Scouting IS universal.

I especially love the "OHMAGAWD!" and the awkward silence that ensues when you say something.

Honestly I don't care if they ever sleep but they had better not disturb the other campers. But one takes care of the other. If they are quiet then very soon they will be asleep and the objective is complete.

I have to say though that the noisy tent problem is a rare thing for us.

Sure, it certainly wouldn't hurt the cause.

I'll let y'all know the particulars when I do.

Salra I'm sorry that that Troop didn't have the fortitude to do right by your family and the Scouting movement.

Meaningless Blather? Not to me and many others. I've based my life on the Scout Oath and Law. Sure we fall down on occasion but the intent is there.

Don't let one bad apple spoil you on the whole orchard.

Online training could be a future goal but a searchable online knowledge base would not be difficult to implement imediately and would be of great value to many Scouters.

Copyright restrictions? I never suggested stealing content. I'm not a shade-tree developer, I've done this before. I'm talking about doing it right with the blessings of the BSA.

Cost of development is the only real major issue I see. The benefits need to be weighed vs. cost. If the BSA considers it worthy then just budget it and do a fund drive to pay for it. Every time my council wants a new facility they do it that way and it works. Pay to view is one method but that would most likely be counter-productive and I wouldn't suggest it. A volunteer development team is another. There are quite of few of us in the scouting movement that are web developers. Right now I could assemble a team of former Scouts and current Scouters to do the work. Granted not everyone can work pro bono but some will and others might be willing to do it cut rate.

The one thing about cost is that other than hosting the costs would be one time. Once it is built it is done and if it is done right with a admin module. Then anyone could update the content with having any special development skills. If you can send an email you can use the admin piece.

How do we validate it? Easy, with the web we can easily access the BSA membership database and confirm those members who access the training. We add an entery in their file that states they accessed a training course. When they finish the course give them a test. If they pass then another entry is made that states they passed the course. We can track a user from the time they log onto the site through every page of the site untill they log out. As a matter of fact it is possible to track a users movement anywhere they go on the internet.

Once again, traditional training is something that I clearly stated should be preserved and continued for exactly the same reasons as Bob mentioned, hands on experience, networking and don't forget fellowship.

Heck, why don't we talk to Bill Gates Sr.? He's an Eagle and I'm sure jr. would listen to his dad....Just kidding y'all.

My son?

That should be irrelevent. It's a scouting event, all scouts should be treated the same.

The more I think about it the more torn I become.

Online training.

All the data and answers in one place accessible and searchable online 24/7. No longer would training be subject to the opinions, mistakes, ommissions or additions of local trainers or those who might accuse the local trainers of such. Also no longer would there be leaders waiting for a local council to hold a training course only to discover that the class is full or conflicts with another activity (scouting or otherwise.)

This would not be difficult to do only time consuming. All Scouting materials are printed. That means they exist in an electronic format somewhere and would be easy to port over to a web format. The training syllabi could easily be duplicated in such a way that would be effective online.

Granted the teambuilding exercises are not web friendly but much the same a very large percentage of the information is. By no means do I think we should even consider replacing hands on training but online training would be a great benefit for many Scouters.

But the problem still remains that some folks will refuse to use it or use it and only take from it what they want to.

As an Eagle, a Scouter and a internet user interface and content specialist I hearby volunteer to help.

Actually the first thing to go through my mind would be to figure out the circumstances and if something illegal happened call the police and hand the boy over.

Are we supposed to just call the parents and inform them their son is a felon, please deal with it?