mk9750

Hey Scouting! Great question, I think. Here's my take. You don't hear the President of the United States begin cutting back on his programs or plans just because he's a lame duck. He pushes forward with his vision, and the plans necesary to make it happen. He does this knowing that another leader is going to be sitting in his chair in a few months. It might be someone who has similiar visions, in which case it's a good thing he started the ball rolling when he did. All that would be required is for the new guy to make minor adjustments to meet his own expectations. Or, the new guy mi

Oge, I'm sorry, I had forgotten the health issues you face. I hope things begin to go your way. It's sad that it has reduced your activity here, but I understand completely. The First Family was right on the mark ,and I have a bid for a copy on E Bay right now. I'll let you know what I think once I get a chance to hear it. It suprises me little that you would want to assume a fictional identity. With some of the things that have been written by and about you, you sound like you'd be a blast at a campout. Adding appropriate clothing to enhance the scene seems just like you. I li

I'll check that one out, but knowing you, I'm sure you're right. And if so, wasn't I right? I knew you'd have that one at your fingertips! How've you been? Haven't heard or seen a whole lot from you here. Everything OK? Thanks for the help. I'm going to go on a search for the album now. Mark

If you will permit me to ask an un - Scout related question - I was just talking to a friend who was telling me about a comedy album from mid 1963. He could not remember who did it, but it sounded like it might be a group similiar to the Congresional Steps. This album was a spoof of the Kennedys. It had a track of JFK having a summit with Castro, Kruschev, and other world leaders at which they called for take out lunch. It also had a spoof of Jackie doing a tour of the White house in which JFK fumbles himself into the scene. As I understand, it was pulled from the market right after

Sorry I missed one point I wanted to make. As you "Lead", make sure you explain to all of the boys what you are doing and why you are doing it. It would be great if you could make your first few weeks / months stricly JLT, but that would be boring for the Scouts, I think. But anything you do that an SPL or a PL will eventually do can be used as training. That way, you can do the stuff that will be fun and exciting, and still train your future leaders. And BTW, welcome!!! Mark

SM41, Congratulations, and good luck! Were I in your shoes, I'm not sure if I would recognize the terrific oportunity you have to start from scratch. I think all I'd see are the hardships ahead. Sounds to me like you've got the basis for a great beginning! I agree with EaglelnKY. Under your circumstances, with no one for the new guys to model, and having had no real Junior Leader training, I think it might be rushing it to get leaders in place within your time frame. I'm very supportive of the theory that the Scouts learn as well or better from their failures as their successes, but

Dave, Sorry to see you "retiring". Having you here has been very beneficial. I do understand what you're saying though: If I came home and spent siginificant amounts of time doing what I do at work, I'd be a little upset with myself, too. Hope you'll check in from time to time, though. Especially to let us know where you landed. Good luck my friend! Mark (I hope you read posts for a coupe of days before you're gone completely, or this will have been a waste of time!)

This thread has caused me to try to see how I adress the boys in our Troop. Last week, when the thread was new, I figured there would be no sense in monitoring what I called the boys in my Troop, as the discussion may have influenced it too much. This week, I didn't even think about it until I was driving home. I believe the pattern that I noticed is fairly typical of how I do things: When calling out to a Scout, I tend to call them Mr. (last name). When being adressed, my response is often "Sir!". When referring to one boy while speaking to another, I call the other boy by his first name ("

Adrianvs: I'd rather call your perception "misguided" rather than "warped". I believe your position that using titles is not a matter of respect, or that using such titles should go both ways in order to be deemed respect, is a product of the standards being loosened in our society. Just as it used to be wrong to have intimate relations outside of marriage and now it is acceptable, just as it used to be wrong to swear but it is now commonplace, providing reasons for children to pretend as if they owe adults no level of respect during conversations has become commonplace. We all owe each o

Eamonn, I also agree. You should do everything you can to aid the program. I applaud you for stepping in as a concerned dad. I have two additional sugesstions. 1) In your dual role as both a parent of a Scout, and as a District volunteer, I think you have a unique opportunity and perhaps a responsiblity to begin recruiting additional or new adult leadership for this crew. As much energy should go into that as the energy you put into covering for the leader that is not carrying his load. 2)If this leader were with another Crew (not associated with your son), and you came to

Neil, Based on having been in a similiar circumstance with our Troop to what you say was Pack A's demise, I agree with you. As delicately as I can put this, over the period of two or three years our program went from being average or maybe a little below average to being the undisputed best in our area (sorry that sounds so conceited, but it really is true). Other Troops in the area that were used to drawing 3 - 10 boys a year started losing crossovers. One Troop in particular went from 10 to 4 to zero boys crossing to their Troop, and we know all the boys who normally would have cro

OT, Dave expressed a sentiment much better than I did. I am pleased and proud that you have mobilized your passion for the process. I'm pretty certain you're working from the other side of the aisle than would I, but your doing something. To use a phrase I have come to hate, "you go, girl!" As to whom I think has employed you, I'm guessing Kerry. Any of them but Sharpton and Kucininch would be fine with me, though (as if my approval should matter to you). Sharpton has shown himself to be a bigger racist than any white person I have ever encountered without a hood. And I know Kucinich

Adrianvs, Sorry if I've offended you. I hope that further explaination will put me in your good graces. In our Troop, all boys adress all adults "Mr. / Mrs. ...". It's been like this since far longer than I have been with the Troop, and although I agree with it, even if I didn't I would never act to change it. It's just not my place. Therefore, my hope is that Eagle Scouts see this as just one more perk (a small, admittedly) for achieving their goal. the reality is that I am not an Eagle Scout, so at least in terms of Scouting, Eagles deserve more resect than do I. I've nev

OGE, Obviously she's working for a "D". Not only because she's a genuine, committed college student (they're always "D"s until the realize the realities of the world!), but it's Iowa. No need for an "R" to be there. Now if on of the "D"s is more appealing to someone in OTs class than another, I can't discern it. I have noticed you've been a little quietter on the board than in the past. I've actually attributted it to one of your star protegeges being away. Mark

I believe that one can never go wrong taking the more formal route and waiting to be invited to change. In other words, I teach my sons, and the Scouts in our troop that Mr. or Mrs. is appropriate until invited by that person to call him something different. I have metioned this before, but I have a tradition where I invite any boy who completes his Eagle BOR to call me Mark. Makes no difference what the age, they've earned enough respect from me to call me by my first name. It's a big kick for these guys to do so, and they make a big deal out of doing it in front of their non Eagle buddi

Outdoor, It has been kind of quiet without you. Any chance you want to let us know for whom you are working? Are you learning much? I'd be very curious to hear your impressions of the process now that you've been exposed to it so intensely. Can't wait to hear more from you. Mark

While watching the Today Show yesterday (did that make sense?), a professor from Johns Hopkins University was trying to make the point that it is far more likely to die from choking than Mad Cow disease, even if the desease became widespread. When pressed for what precautions should be taken, after trying to say none are needed, he finally said that if you feel the need to take any precautions, you should cut back somewhat on hot dog and suasage consumption. Knowing that many of these products are somewhat indiscrimanate as to what they toss in the recipe, I can understand that. But this

Dave, Although I am not an Eagle Scout, you expressed my sentiments exactly. FS sounds a lot like the young men with whom I have been fortunate enough to be associated that have made Eagle. FloridaScout! Congratulations on your achievement! you have my very sincere respect and admiration. It sounds like many of us use the phrase in Eagle CoHs that point out a new Eagle is a "marked man". I've heard this nine times now, and every time a chill goes through me when I think about the accuracy of that line. Those of us who know what being an Eagle means will always hold you to a hi

Is everyone forgetting the most important reason to become a registered committee member? Boards of Review? OK, maybe this is only important to the guy who has to find committee members to serve when the need arises, but it is important! Much the same as I believe in both Creation and Evolution at the same time (would take too long to explain), I believe just about everyone is right here. for the most part, it isn't necesary to have a specific adult register. But it sure would be valuable, for a number of reasons. And from the perspective of an Advancement Chair, not the least of wh

I hesitated telling this story in my first post, because it sends the opposite message. But it was very funny, and I can't resist sharing it here. As I said, we don't have much of a problem with bad language in our Troop. We're not perfect, but it is unusual to hear one of the boys let one slip. Our Venture Patrol was at Tinnerman Canoe Base in Canada a few years ago. Their program has each of the crew rotating responsiblities among the boys. One day, a VERY quiet boy in our Troop was the Crew Leader. Now this guy is painfully quiet. Some of the most excrutiating Merit Badge sessio

I truly get the most enjoyment from being with either or both of my two sons. Being with my wife is almost as good. If spending time with my boys were rated 1,000, spending time with my wife would be 998. Playing golf would rate 991. If I could choose a hobby, it would be woodworking. However, it is unbelievable how little talent one can have for something they would love to do. I've tried simple projects, and have never been pleased with the results. I guess I'll have to leave that one to you guys who do have that kind of talent. I'll go play golf. Mark

DS, I've never read this category until a comment elsewhere had me searching for this to find out what was up. I can't tell you how sorry I am to hear it, both for you personally, and for what I think it means for and about Scouting. I wish you and your wife well. Have you called G.E. in GWRC? When I mentioned to him back in the fall that I speak with you online, he seemed to hold you in high regard (that sounds like a theme). I don't know that there are any positions open, but I'd bet if he knows of one coming up in our Council, he'd jump on the oppurtunity to work with you again (t

Hunt, "That Sucks!" has been creeping into the language of boys in our Troop, and into my home, for a few months now. It used to be I heard it a few times a month, and usually gave the offender a look, but didn't do anything more. Recently, I have been on a mission to eliminate it. I have asked anyone who uses the the phrase to substitute "That vaccuums!". seems when they try to do that, it doesn't seem as sexy to them and eventually they stop using the phrase. It's been a slow process, but progress is being made. My next target is "Yo! Dude!" As to misspellings and typos, I wan

Our unit has shown decline in numbers in the last two years. One jolt had to do with adults not playing together nicely, but we've had a general decline in addition to that. I'd like to hear how FOG handled the situation with the Scout who quit for the Drama Club. I'd also like to hear from others. We have always made anyone who was quitting in order to participate in something else know that WE didn't view their situation as all or nothing. In other words, we are very open to allowing boys to be almost completely inactive during their sport's in season, and then get more active when they

I watched the first time they tried to load the 'burban with his pack. They were leaving for the A.T. They had shakedown hikes before, but he always seemed to ride with another adult, so the pack had never seen The SM's vehicle before it was packed the night before they left. It was too tall. I said that was silly, a Suburban has almost as much headroom as the cathedral ceiling in my house. I took the pack, tried to put it in my Suburban (I've down sized to a Tahoe now, but regret it every day). Damn if it wasn't too tall. We tried every way all of us could think of to fit it in: Slightly slan