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Now my suggestion would be to not only change the fabric but the proportions on these things. My hubby wears a larger waist size (50) and not to be crude, but the crotch is almost to his knees. He has a short enough inseam to make this an issue for us. For these dorky pants to fit him I need to do a full resizing of the crotch area and lift it about 5 inches to actually sit where it should. This is horrible--not to mention the price that I had to pay for these pants that are made of some kind of polyester knit junk.

I know that in Girl Scouts we used to be able to buy the patterns and sew the uniforms ourselves, which would actually help some of these scouts afford to be in a full class A. As it stands it takes $40 to buy a shirt, $40 to buy pants, $6 for a belt, $10 for a hat. Then you get into the patches and you have spent well over $100. This is outrageous if you ask me.

Thanks for all the answers--I'm just a nervous nelly. Probably because I know that this will take time and I'm staring down another Eagle Project from son #2 in about 6 months. If I do blow our own horns here-he is a good kid with a lot of determination and I think he'll do fine.

The Scoutmaster conference went well and his scoutmaster was thrilled he had an idea and had thought about his project. In making contacts with the YWCA we found that they didn't need a playground but, a renovation/rejuvenation of the basement to provide an indoor rec area for the older kids (more his age) and storage space for personal belongings that don't fit in the rooms the people are assigned. He has a lot of great ideas on how to make this area turn into an awesome place for the kids to relax and chill out. Anyways, he's at his Board of Revue tonight so, we'll see what happens.

By the way, his scoutmaster is so impressed with him and his accomplishments that he is recommending that he goes to the NYLT training this summer with the two other boys that are Life rank. He has big plans for these boys and can't wait to see how the training helps them.

My son is getting ready to do his Scoutmaster Conference and BOR for Life, he has thought through a few project ideas and is strongly leaning towards one that would cost around $2000. He wants to build a play area at the local battered women's shelter for the kids. This is not the average project that is completed around this area and is more costly and labor intensive than most of the Eagle projects I've seen. The question that I'm not able to get my brain around is what is acceptable when it comes to gathering the funds for this project? Can he solicit the local companies for donations, does he send letters, does he do something else? The information says fundraising is only allowable for the materials, but what does the term fundraising mean?

I'm so very nervous that he will get in over his head (he'll be 13 in April) and he won't get it finished because he doesn't have enough money. His heart is set on doing this project or something like it for the kids that don't have it as good as he does.

I will have all the answers by the time the other 3 boys get done with their projects (still a long time coming) but, right now I need someone to walk me through the things that they don't tell you in all the books and information.

Thanks-

Our troop got a lottery draw for Philmont-woohoo.

Technically scout "accounts" aren't supposed to happen at any level. There are troops & packs that do this but, my understanding is that if council finds out they come in and can make life heck for us. The only way I have found it to work and be o.k. with the higher ups is to run one or two small fundraisers that the boys don't have to participate in, but can if they would like to earn money for camp. Then whatever profits they earn, are paid directly from the scout troop/pack bank account to the camp.

My W2 leader. She has brought a good group of boys from Tiger to Crossover. That's not the tough part, well it is but not for her. She has early onset MS. She can't see to read, drive, or do any of that stuff. She is legally blind, deals with a plethora of medication on a regular basis. She has bouts where she can barely move or open her eyes with out hurting but she still does scouts. She camps with the boys, marches in parades, chairs the Blue & Gold, is there for everything I need to be done. Especially important is that she knows her boys and cares for each of them, even though one is her son, whom she would like to strangle occasionally. She is dedicated to getting these boys on the right path and will guide them through Scouts as far as they want to go. I would nominate her for her sheer determination to be there for the boys.

BTW she always builds a derby car and loves to race with the boys, and preferably beat them.

Our lodge,Ku-ni-eh, requires that all elections be completed by the first of February, unless there is some complication then you are granted until the end of February. All boys elected can attend ordeal on one of three designated weekends or can do them at summer camp. They set up the extra weekends in case some of the boys attend summer camp outside of council or don't attend summer camp at all due to conflicts with scheduling. This seems to work well for the lodge and the boys.

The problem seems to be located more around the area of we elect boys to the OA and then they don't do their ordeal because of the "secrecy" regarding what will happen during ordeal, what exactly is the purpose of OA and why would I want to join something I know nothing about.

I do agree that having elections where new Scouts vote isn't the greatest idea. But, what if a boy recruits a new scout on your meeting this week and he returns next week when you have elections? Do you tell him he can't vote? I know you have to recieve fifty percent yes to get elected. If it might skew the election process then you need to contemplate this question, if not then let them vote. In our troop right now, if we wait until crossover to do election we could face this issue. We are crossing over somewhere around 10-15 boys. That could skew the elections. My personal opinion is that elections are probably best held before Crossover or well after crossover. Of course if the boys that are crossing over, have been attending meetings regularly and have been invited to the camp outs then they should know them. That's the other option, start incorporating your Webelos into the troop on a more regular basis before crossover.

Sorry if I rambled but, I just spent last night with over 100 Boys Scouts at a lock in where only 6 of them slept. I'm a little out of it right now.

Well as for my family, we are knee deep in scouts. As stated earlier I am well tethered to the Scouting tradition. Not only do we have all the above mentioned scouts but there are tons more. My uncle regularly talks to me about his time at Jamboree in the 50's and going to Philmont back then. Myself, I was a girl scout for years until my troop folded due to the health of our leader. My grandmother has the Girl Scout Thanks Award (akin to our Silver Beaver). My mother was a Girl Scout, my sisters also. And the list goes on and on and on.

As for my generation (my cousins, etc.) I am one of the few that has carried on the Scouting commitment. The character it builds in youth is astounding. I can't give back what my leaders gave me as a scout but, I can pay it forward. My reward for being in scouts is the smile from the boys, the hugs, the boys that come up to me at the store or at school and just want to talk. They know that if they need me I'm available. To see a boy challenge himself to achieve a badge, pin, belt loop, etc. and reach the goal is wonderful. They find something inside themselves they didn't know they had.

I would say it's in my blood because there is a long history and for me I learned the value of serving one another through scouts. This is just a continuation of community service or service hours that are so important for us to have our scouts work on. Whether it be den chief, working with the food pantry or whatever, they learn that service to others is rewarding in ways that don't require a paycheck in your pocket. No amount of money would be as good for me as the boy that every time I see him at school or any where else, comes running at me calling my name and jumps on me to give me a hug and talk to me about what is going on in his life (btw he's 10 and still does this). I will continue to cry when I cross "my boys" (the 25 that I adopt every year) over to Boy Scouts and check on them to see how they are doing.

I am a Scout and it's in my blood, but not so much as a gene, as a passion to carry on what can be such a positive experience for our future generation.

As I search for the actual history of the award I'm not coming up with a lot of information. I do know for a fact that instead of the Beaver for women they used to give the Silver Fawn. In the late 60's to early 70's they changed and requested that all women who recieved this turn them in to get a new Beaver. My great aunt refused and kept her silver Fawn. Boy did this create a stink. I will try to find more info on the awards which will be challenging since all the members of my family that recieved them are all deceased now.

Proud grandaughter of a Silver Beaver, great neice of a silver Fawn, and second cousin to a Silver Beaver. Daughter of an Eagle, sister to 2 Life Scouts, mother of a Star, First Class, Tiger Cub, and future scout.

(My blood runs Green and Red)

Thankfully, we have a SM that says when a boy reaches 1st class they are required to do all patch sewing themselves. I have 3 uniformed scouts (a star, a 1st class, and a tiger) and 2 uniformed scouters. This means there are an awful lot of patches to be sewn. For pockets specifically I have taught the boys to use an upholstery needle that is curved. This makes it easier to catch the outer rim of the patch and hook it straight back down. Thus matching thread isn't an issue because you don't go all the way through the patch. If you really want to worry about anybody seeing the stitches use quilters thread as it is clear and will therefore match everything.

Every Wednesday evening the Drum & Dance team has an "open" practice at camp. All OA members are invited and seems to be a big social hour or two every week.