red feather

New one to me. Eagle 68, dues ever since.

yis

Our thanks for all the kind words and thoughts. They mean a lot to myself and all of our clan.

My fathers memorial service was held last night with over 400 attending. About half were scouts and scouters most of them Tribesman, the outpouring of support was overwhelming.

We think that Dad was looking down on all this and shaking his head thinking 'All that for me?' yep it sure was and well deserved.

Once again thanks to all for all that has been done and said.

yis

red feather

Our prayers and thoughts are hers and yours. May her recovery be swift and her days filled with wonder and delight.

yis

Please take a moment and spare a thought for a gentleman who passed away unexpectedly July 28th, in the company of his family.

80 yrs old, retired with 37 yrs military service as a Command Sargent Major. European Theatre WW2, 2 Bronze Stars, CIB, and Good Conduct Medal.

4 sons and 3 grandsons who earned Eagle. Member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.. Sagamore Great White Buffalo Guard. Over 30 years service to scouting. SM for 4 years, committee for who knows how many. Worked on District level and one of the most requested Eagle Board Chairman in his council and others. Silver Beaver recipient.

This man was my Dad, James N. Sisco, and his shoes will be hard to fill and the world is a little duller without him.

yis

Red Feather

The troops SPL and PLC are wanting to design an unique neckerchief for the troop and need to find a source for blanks.

They asked me to post this on the forum for ideas and sources.

In advance, thanks for the help.

yis

As a camping counselor for 10 yrs or so the only nights that I have not allowed were RV camping nights. As long as a scout camps out overnight whether in a tent, lean to or other similar structures they count.

The point is for the scout to experience the outdoors and learn from the experience.

yis

Patience.

Mostly letting the scouts know that the time at camp is their time, class schedules are theirs to keep and go to. (they never know when one of the adult leaders will sit down with them in class and participate) Letting them know that what they get out of camp is pretty much up to them.

The scouts have their area in camp and the leaders have theirs. Gives the scouts the opportunity to build relationships together and provide a common area for them to help each other. Also gives the adults a chance to unwind. Visits by either group to the others is by invite or permission.

Good daytime eyeshades (for that power nap ...) Earplugs can be helpful, but I usually do not use them as I like to be able to pick up on night noises that may need attention.

Patience, patience, patience with the occasional blind eye but alert ears.

Coffee, either good or bad.

Letting boys be scouts knowing what the expectations are.

and many of the things already mentioned

yis

Gilski,

Welcome to the campfire, I asked a similar question back in March.06, please go to (and I hope I am doing this right)

http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadOD=127606

or do a search forums for red feather starting from march 1, 06. the responses I recieved gave chapter and verse on why requirements cannot be added.

Hope this helps and good luck

yis

Trying to get in, please send link. Bill does not want to cooperate tonite with me.

yis

At my sons graduation from Basic Training all veterans in the audiance were asked to stand. There was maybe a score or so of us, my Dad stood with me. The graduates then saluted us, got me tearing up in pride for those saluting and those I was standing with.

I now salute each and every veteran.

for those who stayed behind for us...

for those who came along with us....

for those who are going ahead for us...

Salute! and Thank You

yis

There are many methods used to retire the flag of our country. Some I agree with and some I do not. The seperation of the flag is not the method that the troop that I am with chooses. ( and I personally agree)

The troop that I am with retires flags complete. When we start one flag is raised to the top of the flag pole as the representative of all flags to be retired, the pledge of allegiance is stated by all. Once up the request for anyone that may have anything to say is put forward, starting with those with military service, followed by those who hold government office and followed by anyone else who may wish to say something.

Once all are done speaking, then the other flags are retired by scouts, scouters or anyone in the audience that wishes to participate by holding one corner of the flag to be retired then brought to the fire and then flipping each corner into the fire. As each flag to be retired is brought forward the audience is given the opportunity to make statements about that flag if it may have personal meaning. Once the flag has been completely consumed the next flag is retired. ( a senior scout or a scouter is assigned this task, however we have had members of the audience request this responsibility) When all flags have been retired the original flag that has been raised is lowered and retired.

It is the responsibility of scouts First Class and lower the next morning to sift the ashes of the fire to recover all grommets of the flags retired and verify that the flags have been retired completely. (if they had not been the SPL and SM are notified and the retirement is completed) We do at times mark certain grommets of flags if those retiring a flag wish them back for their family. All grommets not recovered by the family are then retired by the SM in a location known to none but him(her)self.

yis

red feather

Best of wishes to She Who Must Be Obeyed, you and yours, she and you and yours will be in my thoughts.

As one who has the t-shirt that I think you have a copy of, just rememeber that those who look upon you with respect, honor, wonderment, bafflement and trepidation will always at some point remember that..... you might just have some idea that you might have known what you were talking about.

That is what we do and enjoy doing it. At some point each of them will understand just what you mean when you say that you are glad to be on the green side of the grass and enjoy the elevator music that recalls our younger days. (How did Jimi ever get turned into Muzac?)

Keep on trucking and remember there are always scouts (and scouters) that need to hear what you say and one day will have the great big Ding that will put it all in perspective for them.

Not getting old, just trailwise and somewhat experienced.

yis

When I get accused of being too strict with 'silly rules' the explanation is this, scouting not your home, school or any other area that you are active in.

The effort to explain to the scouts that what they are learning is different from anything else that they do is what scouting is all about. Granted the leadership can be done in other venues (sp?) but the basic survival, campership, and woodlore is different. Different skills for different areas of expertise.

Scouts will, no different from others areas of their lives, will try to get any with as much as possible. This is expected and scouting can teach them that 'this area of their lives' has different rules and necessities.

Kinda like life.

yis

redfeather

SM

Once again sorry that your start in this forum (campfire) is with this experience.

I have represented a scout that was up for expelsion (sp?). Not only from the troop but from scouting. Not an easy position to be in.

The telling voice was from our COR, "Mercy and the belief that the scout has the virtues of scouting as part of his upbringing is a important part of our decisions here." Was very important during the meeting. This scout was not one of the 'easy ones' and had earned his Eagle and is now serving in the US military. Situation not important here and at this time.

The urge to kick out a scout that is borderline 'scouting' is at times strong and the quick way out, but, that is the young man that scouting is designed for. Without proof, substantiated, the actions IMOH were wrong.

And may have completed the journey that this young man was taking in the wrong direction. My first reaction was "Ooooops, got that one wrong." Waiting to hear more information and details if possible.

Scouting with the 'right boys' is easy, the others are the ones we are here for.

yis

Looking for 'chapter and verse' locations that specifically state that no new requirements can be added for rank advancement.

Currently on the road and do not have my scouting information with me.

thanks in advance for the assistance

yis

"An hour a scout" just about states the time spent. Comes out to about 20 hours a week. As recently new (6mos) scoutmaster I am finding that the more I do not know the more time I spend trying to learn about what I do not know.

Lovin every minute of it.

yis

With your permission I would like to pass your story onto the troops PLC as an excellent example of...

Be Prepared, Be Prepared, Be Prepared!!

Glad it was not worse than it was, nothing like the world to stand up and say Hello.

Thanks for your real world story.

yis

Biomedical Engineer. Emergency field service for a company that sells blood chemistry analyzers and blood testing equipment for the Red Cross, hospital and reference lab enviroments. Going on 25 yrs now.

Currently SM of a troop and working hard to figure out how to to the job. Looked easy when I was a ASM (14 yrs ) and loving every minute of it. Confused but loving it all.

Eagle scout, two boys both Eagles. One is a junior in college and the other a Medic in the Army ( one tour under his belt so far).

Wifes first words when I let her know that I was considering SM were "NO,NO, NO!" then "Have a good time". What a trooper!!!!

yis

Not sure where I first heard it but...

"Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get."

Like most the overnights that I and most of the scouts remember are the ones that most people would be 'bad' weather. But we sure enjoy and learn the most from them.

yis

rambling thoughts....

Can't remember the last (or first) time a new scout indicated that the reason that he joined scouting was to learn leadership skills. Sorry, IM but not one potential new scout or parent asked if we taught computer and meeting skills in the last 10+ years that I have been active with the troop.

If memory serves right they wanted to learn something outside of what they learn in school or at home. You know the "exciting" stuff.. camping, cooking, first aid, all that kind of stuff. (Do I dare include knots? )

The two things: scouting skills and leadership go hand in hand with each other. Without one you really cannot do the other in the Scouting arena.

Which one is more important is really moot. They DO go together. As the scout and scouter become more proficient in one they also will get more proficient in the other when the program works.

Just rambling, maybe more later

yis

Had a COH Monday, changing of the guard. New SM (me), new CC ( last SM) and the stepping down of the current CC. He had been SM and CC for the last 15 or so years. Never been given a plaque for his time. Do not know why, just did not ever come up or seem right.

But at the COH I called him up and told him that no plaque would ever be up to what he had done. I read off the names of the Eagle Scouts that he was a big part of.

41 names were read off. No greater tribute to the efforts of this Scoutmaster could be presented.

And no this Troop is not an Eagle mill or a merit badge mill. Just Good Scouting.

yis

Thanks Lynda, will start working on this issue ASAP.

its a Scouting thing

yis

Raised another 711.00 today for a total of 1711.00 which Lowes will match. Real proud of the scouts being Helpful and for doing a real Good Turn Daily.

yis

The troop that I am honored to be associated with raised 1000.00 for the Red Cross today at a BBQ that would normally be a fundraiser to cover troop expenses.

And we hope to do more tomorrow. I am very proud of the scouts and the scouters that volunteered their time and efforts. The efforts of the scouts that worked the customers at Lowes (where we hold this fundraiser...Thanks very much!!! ) was tremendous.

Several of the scouts said this is a Scouting thing to do and that a scout is Helpful.

REAL PROUD of the troop and the people that helped make this day a good day.

Scouts Doing a Good Turn Daily.

yis

From experience of a troop going through three trailers over the last 10 yrs. Trailer organization is a growing thing. Some things work for you and some things do not. Observe troops with trailers and take the best of what they have done and use in yours. The one thing that I strongly recommend is trailer vents on the roof. Equipment does not need the stress of heat and will last longer. Also have a cabinet of some sort that you can lock up for the things that the scouts do not need access to depending on the focus of the overnight. If you are concerned with where the trailer will be parked have a system to lock the hitch and the tires. Hope this helps

yis