red feather

Understanding the diversity is the key. To qoute: "Why should a scout pledge his Duty to God? in the words of Baden-Powell: "Religion is essential to happiness. This is not a mere matter of going to church, knowing Bible history, or understanding theology. Religion... means recognizing who and what is God, secondly, making the best of the life that He has given one and doing what He wants of us. This is mainly doing something for other people." Regardless of title or name of the church one supports or follows, it is all one. Regardless of the name one calls on to invoke the Supreme Being, it is all one. It is the belief of such a concept that ties all together. Sad that conflict occurs from this. Diversity is our world, who is to say that one voice is to fit all people? That is the question and the answer. YIS

I think my dad still has my slides from the 68 Jambo in Idaho and the 70 international in Japan. If you like I can check if we still have negatives or slides.

Looking for your recipes on how to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving. Ours is to hang the bird from a tripod with chickenwire columns for the briquets on each leg. Surround the whole thing in foil, wait for the button to pop out. Yum!!! Include potatoes, both sweet and bakin, about halfway thru (Oh yeah, stuffing). Greenbean casorole, corn, garlic bread, with dutch oven cakes for dessert. Come on give. Its Thanksgiving and may you all have a good one. YIS

Don't have much in recent experience with Cub Scouts but have a bit with Boy Scouts. With the younger first year scouts I explain to them that there are certain things that I do not ask for but require from them. Primarily that they act like scouts not just a bunch of kids, as Scouts they are being held to a higher standard and them meeting this standard is, once again, not asked for but required. They very quickly adopt this higher standard, especially when they see the older Scouts behaving up to this standard. Our SPL,PL and their assistants do not call the boys to order they call the Scouts to order. Works very well. I call the scouts gentlemen and sir, they respond in kind by calling me Mr.. I have found that if the boys are held to high standards they will respond. Just rememebered, the Pack used to give the boys colored drinks and cookies after a meeting and I would cringe as the sugar hit. This was dropped and behavior improved.

Would not recommend an aerosol, not knowing the effect of the ingrediants. Have had good results with a squeeze bootle version of Tri-Flow, a teflon based lubricant.

KS Years ago I saw a metal US Mail box used as an oven. It was turned upside down with some sort of rack inside to hold the pans. I do not remember exactly how it was used. Looking for ideas. Side note built one of the Sgt Rock backpacking stoves out of a dog food and cat food can and was able to boil two cups of water in just under 3 minutes using half ounce of HEET as fuel. Outdoor temp at 40 degrees F. YIS

As this is a topic dear to me and a source for wisdom. I bring it back. Give up the ideas, what is old hat to many is new to others. Such as, using an altoid tin to burn char cloth. (got that from a link suggested). Made a stove from a dog food can and cat food can that will boil two cups of water in 2 to 3 minutes. If no suggestions then ask questions. YIS

I would recommend the patrol meetings during at least one troop meeting per month. As has been stated time is the blockade to many outside of meeting scout activities. Each patrol then can decide what they want to work on either that month or plan for the upcoming overnight and the following months patrol meeting. (hidden training for future PLC participation) It sounds like your troop is into scouting skills and activities that are used outdoors, maybe plan a meeting for outdoors where the boys work on fire building skills, cooking skills, etc. With awards for best fire, fastest built, string burned, whatever. Broke meetings are a problem. The troop I am in each ASM is supposed to have a backup program to pull out if needed. Mine is knots and firstaid, set up as competitions or first aid situations that the boys have to resolve. With two ASM assigned to each patrol you would have two backup plans in case that patrols program tanks. Usually any outside program during the troop meting goes over well and is one that captures their interest. YIS

ditto to all of the above. YIS

Have no problem with properly used tools, as long as they do not turn into toys. Either electronic or non-electronic. Example: PDA for notes, ok. PDA for solitaire, not ok. Wallking stick for walking or lashing, ok. Walking stick as light saber, not ok. YIS

ditto with lauraT7. It is important for new scouts to see older scouts in uniform , at meetings,having fun doing scout stuff. Our troop invites 1 and 2nd yr Webloes to various activities to encourage thier involvement in Boy Scouts. Seems to help. To retain new scouts requires real effort on the part of the troop leadership. Making it fun for the young scouts while getting them to believe it is cool to do high adventure, cooking camping, etc. Recruitment and retention is tough and reasons for having these problems vary from region to region and troop to troop. Just have to be inventive and openminded to oportunities. YIS

Keep me posted. Have you used this dye on leather? YIS

Thanks for the recipe for the dye. Will try it. Your system is much easier than the others I have found. Will let you know. YIS

All good ideas, with winter coming up I thought I would bring this one up from the 'depths'. I also am of good size, 6'6 250. I strongly recommend the full size self inflating pad for winter camping and a closed cell pad under that. Coats make good pillows. Also like the idea of using the bag to wick moisture out at least for short trips. I like a roomy bag but have yet not figured out how to avoid the cold zipper at night. Even with the zipper buffer of whatever it is called. YIS

The ability to read and write. The ability to question and learn. The ability to be resourceful and confident. The points of the Scout Law or a variation thereof. The ability to analyze, adapt and overcome. The ability to look yourself in the mirror without fear. The ability to follow the golden rule or if need be its corollary. The ability to have fun and enjoy what is around you. The ability to improvise. and just for fun a quote that I like: "Remember this, foolish mortals, when ye stare headlong into the mind-paralyzing void, the inky black nothing of existence, the hellish yawning maw of the abyss-- it's pretty da-- dark, so give it a few minutes for your eyes to adjust" Frank M Carrano Sometimes it is hard to take that moment. YIS

ditto with OGE YIS

Wow. Walnut dye... recipe? procedure? how to set? Got walnuts and the urge but no knowledge. Thanks YIS

Haven't seen them but will ask my council office about them. Troop Coin? Sounds interesting, please expand. YIS

Congratulations or condolances are in order. not knowing the makeup of your troop as far as ranks and ages, hopefully the scouts will elect the most qualified to lead them. Remember, guidelines are just that guidelines. You will have to adapt them to your situation and go from there. I have know seen any published requirements for SPL. Too many troops and too many variations. Good luck. YIS

I use a supertool and like its versatitlity and uses. I agree the knifes are hard to sharpen, haven't figured out how to hold my mouth right i guess. Have seen the Gerber and not had a chance to use one much . The owners liked them and seemed to like to show off the plier function.

Excellent, good luck and call on us if you need anything. YIS

The award was duly awarded. All requirements were met and aproved by the leaders he was working with. He earned it let him keep it. YIS

kwc7, good reasoning. Thank you. aneaglemom. bon apetit (sp) have some for me. merlyn, I may be simple but if there is no religion how can there be discrimanation against it? Not a lawyer or activist just somone trying to help scouts on their trail. The rest of ya, the hard spot on the wall is stil hard, maybe time to move to a different spot. BW, never did get the answer to your question did you? YIS

Just a thought about this thread. Could it be that the question itself engendered the responses? Could it be that this is a volatile question or area of investigation? Check out the questions on this forum and see which ones generate the most responses and how they are stated, and or, divided (and not just the program or issues areas). Could it be that this type of question has been posted previously by other people with ulterior motives? To me, the reaction of ,why bother, is not necessarily an appropriate response of an investigator looking for infomation. Perhaps the information is there for use, and not for debate. Yes, the good ol boys network is there and it is not neccessarily a bad one. Information is passed down and the next generation of scouters take it and incorporate what is usefull and holds the rest in reserve. (Personal experience) I would have to say from the repsonses about your intial post is that the general feeling, based on the posters on this thread, is that girls in scouting is not supported and that women in scouting is allowed and working. This is a 'campfire' discussion and at no time should labels, etc., be used. Usually at campfire topics that I have had when I disagree completely I listen and enter the fray with an open mind and if need be play the 'devils advocate' (even if I agree with the initiator) to expand the debate. Lumping everyone, or most everyone, into a group is not a good process to engender open responses. Sorry, soap box just gave way. YIS

I see a place for women in Scouting for their leadership skills and life experiences. However there is little place for young women to in Boy Scouts. Many of our young men would not behave the same or react the same to the situations that are presented to them in training and outdoor situations. There is an excellent program for young women that is working well and is well represented. Leave well enough alone and I do hope that people will quit trying to fix what is not broke. Remember what happened to Ma Bell when enlightened groups tried to improve the communication system.