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 f

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

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

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 wit

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

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 a

"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 th

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 to