red feather

Your name wouldn't happen to be Brad S.? Had less that 12 hrs to his 18th to get his Eagle in.

Congrats, used to be a Beaver.

yis

As a father, with my son serving int he Army as a Medic at Camp Navistar on the Kuwait/ Iraq border, I understand with sadness, Mr. Naughtons very youthful lack of knowledge. I have to put his actions into the category of 'knucklehead' with a great need of some real life experiences.

My son is third generation military. And is serving his country in a way that is outside of Mr. Naughton.

When Mr. Naughton speaks of ripping off a yellow ribbon, "we take back a life that was taken...", he indicates that he has no real concept of what he is talking about and has no concept of what our troops are putting forth in service to our country. If he really wants to take back a life, volunteer and serve as a Medic, or if he has the training a Dr..

My dad, myself, and my son have/and are protecting Mr. Naughtons right to speak his mind. To me it is sad that he is not willing to allow others to speak their minds either by serving or with a simple 'yellow ribbon'. I hope that he will someday wakeup/growup and understand what freedoms he enjoys and what it may take to keep these freedoms.

Personally I am on my third "support the troops" ribbon. This one has lasted the longest possibly since I wrote my sons name on it.

His last paragraph is probably the clearest of the bunch.

"..haven't heard from him since. I don't know if he's dead, and my guilt is alive and well. I hope that all of our family members in harm's way return alive. Until then, I can really honor their sacrifice by demanding that it finally comes to an end."

If he feels as strongly as the paper published then he should campaign against the war.

But leave the supporters of the troops and the Blue Star families alone.

Sorry,

soap box is now put away, back to the campfire

yis

yis

Troops will rotate the positions normally. However if your son gets elected again then another term may be possible. Some troops limit the number of terms.

And congrats of the nomination of your son to PL. and congrats to your son on the nomination.

yis

My sons called me Dad, the rest of the troop uses Mr.. The rest of the leaders are called by their first names unless something important needs to be addressed.

I posted ealier on a different thread, a scout who is now an adult, when he got his Eagle asked if he could use my first name. A request that was granted with pride and honor. True Returns.

yis

We rarely camp friday through sunday, mostly sack lunches for Saturday and good meals through Sunday breakfast with a possible lunch.

10 to 15 dollars is normal. We try to push the scouts to get inventive and come up with really good meals. Hot dogs and hamburgers are not allowed unless they are doing something really special. In many years no one has gone hungry or trying to do something extra and stay within the budget. Makes for some really good feeds.

yis

Remember not a lot of time was spent on this so please do not groan too loudly..

We're the Dragons. Yes we are!

When we go a-hiking, we are always a-draggin.

We are the Draggin Dragons!!!

sorry

yis

Howdy. Cat get your tongue?

yis

Semper, sometimes you are scary!

yis

Troop here recently converted to propane. No problems so far. We also keep white gas lanterns and stoves for use by the leaders and scouts. This is to provide an opportunity to teach the proper use and care of this type of fuel and stoves. Propane is easier to use, but it never hurts to know how to use white gas.

yis

OGE, I try real hard not to be concerned about the items you mentioned. I feel that as a scouting volunteer that my hands are full with working with each scout one at a time. Helping them learn what a scout is all about and helping/watching them grow into young men that are proud of themselves.

To me that is what we are all about. The rest of the stuff you mentioned is window dressing. The scouts deserve the best that we can provide. Scouts do not really care about the window dressing they just want to learn and be proud.

That's True Returns

yis

Every pack, campbox, trailer has a 'black hole' that only releases its contents when you return home.

If you have a stocked patrol box, the other patrol boxes will be restocked by the end of the overnight.

Tabasco or related sauses can make almost anything taste better.

Compass readings taken next to a large metal object will be found out to be incorrect only after 2-3 miles.

When camping, try to put scouts of the same size in the tent. Cuts down on 'lost' clothes.

yis

Anyone around the campfire ever have any experience with fire pistons. A method of fire starting that uses compressed air to light an ember to transfer to tinder? Looks interesting.

True Returns

yis

Thanks for making me smile. Welcome to the campfire.

True Returns

yis

worn with pride.

yis

You do know that St. Patrick is the patron saint of Engineers don't ya?

He engineered the first 'worm' drive over there in Ireland.

yis

Our troop occasionaly has an Unlimited Pinewood Derby. Only rule I ever have heard stated was the entry was not to burn the chruch down.

yis

When my sons were active in the troop ( both are Eagle now, 1 in college and 1 in the Army) I tried to give them as much space as I could. I did not go to Philmont with them or the Boundary Waters. I did so to allow them to experience these trips without Dad around. However, I did look to them at meetings and overnights to help 'get things done'.

yis

Ran across a sci fi story that included scouting. Hunting Problems by Robert Sheckley circa 1955.

Anyone else read it? Read in an anthology "The World Turned Upside Down" published 1-05. Edited by David Drake, Eric Flint and Jim Baen.

yis

True Returns. Thank you. With your permission I would like to print it and pass it out to the Troop.

yis

We have used wooden patrol boxes for at least the 10 years that I have been with this troop and they were not new when I started.

They hold one 10 qt dutch oven, 2 cast iron skillets, a nested aluminum pot set, utensils, and the various condiments that the patrol wants. They also store the paper towels, Crisco, aluminum foil etc, etc etc. They can be carried by 2 scouts and have seperate metal legs that they stand on. They do not include plates, silverware or cups, those are the responsibiliy of each scout.

Food is transported in coolers and dry boxes, each patrol has their own to use and care for.

Lightweight camping is done also but that gear is usually the responsibility of each scout to acquire or borrow from those of us who have extra.

They work great and have so far stopped all raccoons from getting into them. Have had some of the plastic bins opened by some (talented ones tho)

yis

True Returns.

Watching young boys grow in young men.

Listening to my sons talk about what the people that they are with and what those people do not know and how my sons use the skills that they were shown in scouting definately a 10+. (knots, orienteering, and other scout skills) One son studying music the other in the Army as a medic.

True Returns, not only for my sons but all of the other scouts that I (we) have come in contact with.

Thats why I (we) do it, I think.

yis

As a maker of untold hundreds of tent stakes from number 9 wire it has always amazed me how they disapear over time. They are like socks.

One of the things that slows the loss of stakes that we do is to tie a length of bright colored plastic ribbon (found at any good hardware store)

to each of the stakes.

This takes a lot of effort to "lose" them or have them " stolen". Have thought of labeling each stake with either the tent number or the patrol name.

yis on my third roll of number 9 wire

Thanks for the responses, keep them coming we need all the input possible.

Little background, we register around 30 to 35 boys a year and have normaly had around 2500 to 3000 dollars in operating expenses per year. This includes registration and equipment maint and replacement.

3 fundraisers that draw the same scouts and parents time after time and they are only around 25 percent of the boys in the troop.

thanks again

yis

Was requested tonight by the troop committee to ask what other troops are charging as their yearly dues.

Your responses will be greatly appreciated.

yis

Think I may have found a source for the metal cans. A local large grocery store that has food providers had one that gets 5 gal cans and they have promised to call me as they are emptied.

The manager that I spoke to was interested in helping the scouts and was very helpful. Sure hope they come through.

Keep ya posted

yis

ps. any hints on best ways to clean the things once I get them?