orennoah

I'd like to see a potluck, where the attendee/leaders were cooking for each other, using all sorts of different techniques. The only rules would be (a) dinner ready by a set time,(b) bring extra copies of your recipe and (b) be prepared to explain what you're doing (and why) to others.

When I set up our troop's website, I included a number email list serves, for everyone, for each patrol, for the adults, for the PLC. In each one, I (as SM) am subscribed. Hence, I know what is being sent through the listserves. I encourage their proper use, as they're a great way to communicate. In addition to the phone tree (which never works as designed), a Patrol Leader can send out a single email to his patrol. IF there were abuse, I would deal with it. So far, there has been no abuse, so no need for any heavyhanded bans or ill will.

I, too, love it when the prey critters get all excited. Makes my hungry. - Oren WE3-41-03 BEAR WE3-41-05 QM

There is no minimum age or rank requirement to begin working on a merit badge. Your son should start working on the merit badge that (a) interests him and (b) is approved by his Scoutmaster. You should start by learning about the "blue card" system and how it is used in your son's Troop.

Lisabob: I completely agree with your observations and frustrations. When my daughter saw the great advertures her brother participated in, she wanted that, too. However, the local GSA troop had virtually no outdoor program and its leaders wanted to have absolutely nothing to do with any of us dads, who had offered to assist in camping. The program was, as you state, cookies and crafts. My daughter felt that the GSA program here was, as she so succinctly put in in her young vocabulary, "wimpy." Now, she's only a few months away from 14 and Venturing. It hasn't been fair that she's had to wait this long to have an active outdoor-oriented program. Ranting over.

I would talk with the Scouts about the "value" of an Eagle rank. Is it the value to everyone else, or the value to the Eagle himself? For example, I worked my tush off to earn my Woodbadge beads (and even harder to get that third bead!). To me, my beads are a valuable possession, of which I am extremely proud. To me, they represent the overcoming of significant challenges that included unforeseen problems and a whole lot of personal growth. Some other Woodbadgers, not so much. They chose to set goals which were easily and predictably attained. (Attend Roundtable for a few months. Read a book on Scouting. Come on!) They have the same beads I do, but they aren't worth nearly as much.

Lisabob. You'd be right, of course. However, I've yet to have a Dad mention any of these things. Moms, on the hand, have raised these issues with me many a time. There are significant differences in the way that Moms and Dads see the world and how their children fit within it.

My favorite is 98.6 Degrees: The Art Of Keeping Your Ass Alive by Cody Lundin. It's very well written, with a style that cuts through alot of b.s. and speaks in a language that young men will understand and, more importantly, remember.

My advice: For winter camping in snow and sub-freezing temps (which my Troop does at least twice a year), I use a quality closed cell pad (Z-rest) on the bottom and a quality self-inflating pad above (Pro-Lite 4). That's the setup I recommend to my Scouts. We just returned today from two nights near Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevadas. Temps at night were in the single digits and I didn't hear a single complaint about cold, even though there was insufficient snow on the ground for us either to build snow shelters or anchor our tents with deadmen and the ground was frozen so hard that it was impossible to drive any stakes in. So, we left our tents in our packs and slept in bivies or wrapped in tarps. With quality double padding, the frozen ground didn't cause any problems.

If you have a local REI, I'd start there. You can learn the features and prices of the GPS receivers and, most importantly, how to use them. You may find that your current concept of "must have" features isn't entirely accurate.

Ms. Eagle 515 wrote: "True and almost terrifying(for the presenter and the CD)while the rest of us chuckled story. Remember Leaving a Legacy, what's the first thing done. If you don't remember dust off your syllabus. Well wouldn't you know it but during the participants interfaith service which took place earlier that same day they not knowing what was to be expected later on, did that same thing. The presenter and CD were stunned. The presenter was trying to figure out how he would be able to recover which he did nicely when at the time his presentation was up, he finished things off with a cherry on top. When the participant who did that during the interfaith realized what was happening he was stunned. He came over and asked me if we were horrified. I told him no, we didn't know the premise of his portion of the service when it was accepted because it was titled differently and we just rolled with it. No harm no foul and everyone got a kick out of it in the end." My Bear Patrol did the SAME THING! The CD handled it really well. She teared up, not through embarassment or frustration that we'd "screwed up" her presentation. But, that we "got it." It was a great moment for all of us, because we, too, realized that we'd gotten it.(This message has been edited by orennoah)

The three most important things about boots are fit, fit and fit. Everybody's foot is different, not only in size, but in shape. A wonderful boot for me may be horrible for someone else. When you go to REI, ask to speak to the most experienced boot guy(or gal) and have your daughter try on all sorts of boots. When you get the right one, you'll know.

Way to go!!! - Oren WE3-41-03 BEAR WE3-41-05 QM

Just like an internet troll, Phelps really should simply be ignored. No newspaper copy, no television soundbite and no radio interviews. I know it won't happen, but I can dream.

Having been in your position (taking over for a popular SM at a COH), my best advise is to keep the SM minute at the COH, in front of all the parents, etc., exclusively positive. Stress the great heights the troop can reach, all because of the great example set by former SM. Then, when the first instance of this re-occurs, do a SM minute that reflects your disappointment that the troop is now headed in the wrong direction. E.g., share your dreams with them first, then work with them to achieve those dreams. Good luck and - believe it or not - great joys await you. You just won't know when those joys will hit.

Before the Nazi's adopted it, the Swastika was used by many, including Baden Powell, as a symbol of friendship. Shocking, no? (Much like finding out that Cortez's name in Spanish means "Mr. Politeness." Genocide with a smile, in both cases.)

At least you plugged it in!

As SM, I talk to the new parents frequently and try to orient to the boy led troop concept, which is the hardest thing for them to grock. As for writen material, you can see for yourself at http://www.scouttroop14.org. Just click on "joining info."

Next you're going to tell us that the Brits don't celebrate the 4th of July either! Come on, now. We all know that everyone in the world is really an American (or at least wants to be one). But, seriously, on the topic of giving thanks, I want to thank you for your always thoughtful posts on this forum.

Congrats!! I'll be sure to toast (with bug juice, of course) to your Beads on Dec. 7. (And to the memory of those lost 65 years before.) - Oren WE3-41-03 BEAR WE3-41-05 QM

Must be something in the air. Just after I finally updated the Troop website last week, I get a call from a dad with three, count 'em - three! - sons who are interested in our Troop. They show up at the meeting and the Scouts like them and they like us. Next meeting, they'll most likely be all signed up. Congrats!

Fuzzy Bear asked: "What else could they [pipe bombs] be used for except to harm someone?" Just like guns, pipe bombs could be used for fun or mayhem. I could easily see myself at that age making a pipe bomb with some buddies, going out to some safe area and exploding from a safe distance, simply for the joy of watching and hearing a grand explosion. Mind you, I never did. But, given the opportunity, I probably would have. Of course, when I was a youth, terrorism was a little heard of problem of people who lived far, far away. Now, the political situation has completely changed and people are far less likely to see the "fun" in a pipe bomb. These boys were definitely in the wrong. However, let's not lose sight of the inherently experimental nature of adolescents and their natural fascination with stuff blowing up. I can't agree that building a pipe bomb is conclusive evidence of any intent to cause death or injury to anyone.

"The Ship members whose parents did the most complaining havent sold a thing." Amen! Ain't that the truth! Now. Why is that and has anyone found a way to overcome this?

The Riot Act: While they didn't actually read the Riot Act (an Act of Parliament in 1714 entitled "An act for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the rioters"), local officials would read the required warning from the Riot Act to declare a gathering illegal and demand the participants to disperse, as follows: "Our Sovereign Lord the King chargeth and commandeth all persons, being assembled, immediately to disperse themselves, and peaceably to depart to their habitations, or to their lawful business, upon the pains contained in the act made in the first year of King George, for preventing tumults and riotous assemblies. God Save the King." The Guide to Safe Scouting: I take the GTSS to be a guide and not a legislative enactment. So, I don't read it with the jaundiced eye and tortured interpretation I do with legal codes. (Yes, I'm a lawyer.) Thus, when it says "Never use liquid-fuel stoves, heaters, lanterns, lighted candles, matches, and other flame sources in or near tents," I take that to mean heaters in tents is a no-no. I don't wonder if the "liquid-fuel" term modifies "heaters and lanterns" as well as stoves. The reasoning and intent is clear enough for me. I will never allow it on a Scouting trip and I would never do it on a non-Scouting trip. I've been perfectly warm in my sleeping bag in 20 below and I know that mountaineers sleep well in worse conditions and they don't haul heaters up Everest.(This message has been edited by orennoah)

My beading was a great night that I'll never forget. Two of us from my Troop were going to be beaded at our semi-annual Court of Honor. Ended up that my entire Bear Patrol (less the one who was called to active duty) decided to get beaded at the same time. So, we had a six-person beading at our Court of Honor, which was attended by a whole bunch of District and Council Wood Badgers. We started with a big pot luck (at which I brought a Buche de Noel decorated to look like the Wood Badge log, complete with hard meringue axe), which had the desired effect of bringing lots of people together. After the boys got their rank advancements and merit badges and new leadership positions, we pulled out the Wood Badge table, blew the Kudu Horn and had a great Beading Ceremony. The highlight was when we were all signing Back to Gilwell, the Scout COH emcees were rocking behind us with raised lighters. Then, the Troop spontaneously serenaded the Wood Badgers with their own impromptu verse of "I used to be a Boy Scout." You could just FEEL the cross-generational admiration and respect and mutual glee. - Oren WE3-41-03 BEAR WE3-41-05 QM