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This question has been visited before a few times. It is also the only thing that I think BW and disagree on. But I do take his point. I'm with OGE and Mike F though for the following reasons. Big tents can mean Patrols camping together. The PL keeping the guys in line. A great learning experience for those who let things get out of hand. The Patrol system at work 24/7. My Patrols sleep in big tents normally. Not always. The program issue is more important than the tent issue. So small tents for hikes and big tents other times. They decide. So I see the big ten

we are only allowed the one hat here. I agree with that policy but then we have a lot less hats to wear than do you in the USA. Maybe our jobs are a little bigger than the way you have divided things. Don't know. I do not believe that this is true at Troop level. The biggest difference that I see is that here a Scout begins at age 6 and leaves at age 26 (ideally) and providing the sections are available they will have the same parent committee all through. Let me try a different angle. We have a single parent committee providing support for up to five youth sections

Paul Petzoldt had a great open letter to a mum that he used at Outward Bound. The guts of it ran that it was her right or even duty to do her utmost in gautanteeing her sons safety and that if she did that OB could gaurantee the death of his soul. Not recommending that you throw a copy at her just that it is an issue that often arises and the result of seeking to completely protect is a death of a diiferent kind.

over here the standard seems to be (Groups opt fot this - there is no rule) that the parent committee find the dollars for leader training and for the annual registration fee. Some groups also pay an initial kit out fee to get the leader into unifrom. Ours does not however they did pay for half my Jamboree fee so that I could watch over their children. That I see as a pat on the back for three ears of service. I do not demand it but I really do appreciate it. Trouble is if it baecomes a norm (personally I think it should) then it becomes a payment that loses its value baecause it is r

Been wanting to get into flint and steel for each patrol for some time but we are still using mine instead as I haven't found an item worth purchasing or if it is it is too expensive for us. So I have not even suggested it to the PLC - I suspect that they would love the idea. In the mean time it is mostly lighters in our Troop only because the matches get wet/smashed/used up too quickly.

Unc I believe that we have talked about your your MIA relation before and I was thinking of him just a couple of weeks ago. I wish I could do some searching up there. Lovely people and your uncle is not alone in the MIA list for PNG - there are plenty to find. A few more turn up every few years. Hereś hoping for you.

Its 31 May here now. We will remember them - Lest we forget

sorry eagle54 your posts do not read very clearly. SM/ASM's should help the PL and SPL to get their jobs done better. for some that will mean a lot of help from the adult. for other scouts that will mean an occassional reminder or observation only. the point is that the scout/PL/SPL learns how to perform better as a leader and person. the duty roster is one way of managing jobs on camp. it is not essential and may even be inappropriate unless you are seeking for your scouts to learn about rosters. don't get me wrong. i think rosters are great. before butting in i advise

no need for any apology johnsned. your grief makes my relationship with my scouts more meaningful. i hope never to go where you are now. i just farewelled my oldest scout from the troop as he has reached max age. we both got glassy eyed as we shook hands for the last SM-PL time in an otherwise empty hall. to lose him or any of the others forever would be devastating. thanks for sharing a little about willie

you have pricked my conscience with this one. i once heard a recital of some banjo patterson that was brillant and i used to know the story "mulga bills bicycle' but my memory is shocking and it has gone. i have made resolutions to memorise some of the old yarns by patterson as they are great stories and recited faithfully keep the context and feel for days gone by. i will get some of the better short stories copied and into a campfire folder.

thanks ed and baschram645 for the info. had never heard of it before and was expecting an anniversary of a battle or peace treaty. i believe that remembrance day (11am 11 nov) is also observed in the US. it gets a second place over here after anzac day (first day of battle for australians in ww1-25 apr 1915) i imagine that your memorial day is similarly important. i 'll spare a moment for your dead on that day too. sorry for the delay in reply. have been busy lately.

What is the signifigance of 31 May pls?

mmmmmm my views on competition in Scouting are based on my work and upbringing. I am an outdoor educator and I work primarily (as of this year) with severely disadvantaged youth. They are an extreme group and they magnify the normal issues until they thump you in the face a bit. Competition (ie attention seeking/domanding etc) is a main component of the most unpleasent aspects that we address. I see the same stuff in lesser forms in most young people. This is a cultural phenomenum. (did I spell that right?) Other cultures that I have encountered do things differently. What is happ

Competition - might get my head bitten off here. Society and capitalism use competition in all things. That is unhealthy in many instances. Read any of Stephan Covey books (they rehash a lot so no need to be really choosy) for the detailed discussion. Scouting uses competition - but at a reduced level . The old fashioned play your best not to win type feel. Look at MBs. You compete against a standard. Not against other people. Oath and Promise are a standard also. We all test ourselves against the ideals with an understanding that we will never be perfect in this wa

linux helps with the bugs but not the spam. my sister-out-law sent some bulky photo spam once and i asked her to desist as i pay by the hour and the download time was huge. she doesn't email at all now. not a bad result in all. actually the only other people who spam me apart the viagra thing are christians. as in practicing and preaching ones.

I just realised that there are a lot of ideas that I get off this forum and that I lose a few when I dont act immediately. Darn that short term memory ...thing. I have just started a document in which I will cut and paste the ideas I like. Eamonn your recruiting idea is first. Thanks

just printed the NYNewsday.com version for our Troop noticeboard this week. Thanks.

Laurie I have in mind a long power cord, sleeping bags and pillows, a bbq going at the rear, some good speakers (surround sound would be great) party food and not too much hassle sweeping up later. Obviously weather dependant of course. For those who dont want to watch the video going there may be two or three theatres (big troops in mind here) and a game of cricket off to the side. Well maybe baseball rather than cricket. This is what our troop wants for the end of term break up party. Missed last term so double the pizza this time round.

Yes ANZACś is out on DVD but it was not Mel Gibson but a bloke who looks similar. Paul Hogan was the best known actor (Dundee) For my Grandadś Battalion it was Bullecourt. 51 got back from 250 who went in and the Battalion had already suffered much to get from 1000 (full strength) to the 250 who started that day.

No - just bad humour on my part.

My Troop went to the dawn service for ANZAC Day this morning. Great service as usual. Not a bad turn out for the Troop given that they have been on holidays for a fortnight (50 or 60%). ANZAC Day is the anniversary of our first day of land fighting in WW1. April 25 1915. Bigger than Rememberance Day over here. Both my kids wore one of the great grandfathers medals. They have two that went to war and each year they swap which ones they wear. After the service we had PLC. All over by 0815 am! Then some went for the march as well. Next year we plan to do both. The dawn ser

Scouts: anything with water build rafts and float / sink them deepwater rescue in canoes canoe games - there are lots all parades outdoors for the summer water pistol games - lots of those too lifesaving training - most public pools will help with instructors do the paintball thing but with water pistols with added vegatable dye - wear old clothes stand in a dam/pond/slow shallow river. Build a table or raft in the water and light a fire on it. Cook a quick meal on the structure. Use star charts and telescopes during long warm nights Vide

After 10 years in the infantry I asked the Troop to remind me if I let one drop. They never did and I tried hard. I apoligised just a few times. With other kids it is not offensive - in fact it helps them relax and listen without thinking deeply about which parts of the sentance are important - like my soldiers. But not in Scouting. Lots of my Scouts will let a few go. I ask them to swear more quietly. My aim is to not ask for something I cannot do myself and to not set it up as a rule to be broken. A bit off the wall but I thought that "Major Pain" was part of your fast st

You guys are making me depressed. AK was right. The head shed asked non Scouts what turned them off Scouting. Uniform was high on the list. This isn't to say that by changing the uniform they would join. IMHO the image is not just the threads. I don't know anyone who likes the new design. We could make our feelings known by www. But would you know it you could only vote for the various styles proposed - not for retaining the existing uniform. The new uniform comes out mid year. They are changing the badges too I think as the existing set and lay out will not go on the

No worries dozer. Just having a dig. (Translation = thats okay. Just joking)