saltheart

Some campsite improvements will be temporary in nature. Some will be permanent. Our scouts would accomplish many of the examples above each year, and that earned them the necessary points for what was called 'campsite' improvement. Permanent improvements were called 'camp' improvements, even if done in the troopsite. Those ideas wouldn't come to us until we were actually 'in-camp' and able to see what repairs and improvements might be necessary. The camp ranger usually had a list of repairs and permanent improvements that he saw desireable or necessary. And, he also had the tools and materials

Quality of instruction 'outside' the troop was always a concern we shared. The quality of instruction of adult leaders, volunteer instructors, merit badge counselors, and others that we built over the years was one that the group itself took great pride in, and therefore maintained tight control over. The quality of instruction at summer camp was another thing. Those leaders that attended camp would make the effort to watch classes and volunteer where they could. Swimming was never a class we worried about for the instruction was absolutely top notch. Even the youngest instructors were to be a

Although there are literally thousands of good ideas out there for enhancing ones training abilities and talents, there's only really three that I've kept in the back of my head when serving on staff or as course director. First, regarding computers, I've been an advocate of having a Plan 'B'. If for some reason your computer has a major glitch or the power fails, be ready at moments notice to make your entire presentation the old fashioned way. Second, in any kind of training, be it working with Scouts or adult leaders, and as in business...know your client. Be totally aware of who

Kinda reminds me of Abbot & Costello's ol' "Who's on First?".... Anyway, where required, I've always used my real identity, but those places are few, and mostly far more secure than forums such as this. My 'handle', 'moniker', 'nic', whathaveyou, is one that predates Microsoft, so in many ways, it really is me. A name gained many moons ago by those friends who all resided by the sea, as did I. Even the Mrs. resorts to that tag when the mood hits her. Few in the troop use it when addressing me. But when they do, it's usually 'Mr.' Saltheart.........lol..........

I may never know you. You may never know me. I can only know you by the words and thoughts you present to me here. Likewise, you can only know me by what I post, be that my very best effort, or my worst. Be that the truth, or falsehood. Be that well said, or poorly written. Unless you are my neighbor, my friend, or a personal acquaintance, I cant possibly know you by more than what I read. I either appreciate it, or abhor it. Or perhaps have no opinion at all. I gain my knowledge and opinion of your character by what I read. Likewise, you will only gain a picture of my character and

OK...a few times now I've read reference to some private members mailboxes. Ummm...can someone direct me to where I might find them? (Oooooh...I just hate it when I have to appear my age...)(This message has been edited by saltheart)

FOG, Our docs are very nice, thank you very much. We'll keep them. But a fact of life that many seem to miss, Lord knows how, is that the society in which we live today is, if nothing else, litigious. And doctors, the good and the bad, have to protect themselves in as much as they can. Hence, most need to talk directly to someone who has legal charge over a minor prior to administering many forms of aid. It's a CYA thing. Same with the permission forms, for the most part. If nothing else, the parents signature and medical information provides a level of comfort for volunteer le

I think we're getting a tad picky here. What I believe Bob meant was that when dealing with a child, doctors will not treat non-life threatening conditions without first speaking to the parents or legal guardian. I know this myself having been to the hospital on numerous occasions over these past many years with Scouts in those very situations. Our troop always used a home-grown permission form for complete medical information purposes as well as parental permission in addition to the BSA standard forms. But both only served to provide immediate information to the doctors, and neither would se

I think Bob said it quite succinctly. Now is your time to remove yourself from the process and allow it to move forward without you under the guidance of the committee and the parents. The only commentary that I might add is that in circumstances where consequences for actions (aka: punishment) is the subject of discussion, the 'walking of the knifes edge' part of that discussion is setting an example for the future without mixed signals or even the remotest possibility of more than one interpretation of the final dictate. It's tough. Whatever consequences for actions the committee sets f

I'd agree that the NSP practice is one that should be particular to the needs and size of the troop. It works in some circumstances, in others it might not. The NSP may be, as Bob said, some 14 years old as a BSA standard. But I'd bet there are others out there for whom the practice goes back much further. Our troop started using the idea back in the very early 80's. That would make it over 20 years old with our troop. And, as I said above about it working sometimes and sometimes not, it came and went along the way. Currently, the troop still uses the practice as we set it out way back wh

As this story has nothing to do with Scouting, I fail to see how it would even belong in the Politics section of this Scouting Forum. It may be an important subject to discuss, but not here.

Can't disagree with the notion that Sewing would likely fall short in the "want-to-have-this-badge" catergory. That being the case, perhaps if it were a required MB? Or, if the badge being required fell short with public opinion in Scouting, the at the very least, some sort of competency with sewing might be made a required part of the program...like a requirement for rank advancement?

Can't resist this Rooster... Does the United States Government embrace values that contradict the BSAs? Probably depends on who's President. The current one does, for sure. The last one...? Well, that would be up for discussion... I think the idea of the BSA being a bit more choosey about where their funding comes for is a fine idea. But, if I were a betting man, I'd bet that with funding being hard to come by at present, changing the way things are done would hurt if philanthropic interests who embrace the standards that the BSA doesn did not appear on the horizon with che

Many, many years ago...when our youngest son, at his Eagle Ceremony, just prior to the presentation of the award, asked that his older brother (an Eagle), his father, (an Eagle), and his grandfather (an Eagle), join him before the gathered crowd, and had his award presented by his grandfather. Very proud family that day. And one extremely proud grandfather...that he was asked, and remembered...

OGE, ...it's unseemly and un masculine.... LOL...ahem....harumph................ Would it make a difference if males learning to sew used a much bigger needle? Would it be more...manlier...to use a very larger needle? I'm told by some that size matters........ (This message has been edited by saltheart)

SEWING... I've said this for years, and even taught it (as I see it) from time to time.... Plain ol' sewing...like sewing on your own paatches so MOM doesn't have to do it. Or sewing a patch in your tent...or your pants or socks while on a hike in the outback.

Oh, Dave. I'm disappointed that you don't find the tattoo specials interesting...LOL. I find them quite interesting, from time to time. But then again, been there, done that, and not about to get any more at my age. (Although both my Eagle Scout sons, now married, have a number between them.) Does the Mrs. truly find them worthy of her time? LOL... Can't type worth a darn...this is the third edit...(This message has been edited by saltheart)

Gosh, I don't know if I could possibly make such a list. There's few things about Scouting that I list as "not" great...except, perhaps, the 1 hour a week thing... I'll give you a hint on why I think we all enjoy it so, though. We wanna be kids again doing the things the kids do. And sometimes, we adults can be more like kids than kids...ain't it great? Scouting is great for that. I never felt out of place letting the kid in me "out for a while" (on a tether) when outdoors with the troop. The trouble with that whole thing was that I couldn't allow myself to look "too" much like a kid

Well, it would appear that my post above was one of my more misdirected and ill-thought-out posts, as I was attempting to read the OP here, and 2 other magazine articles all at the same time. Such as it is, the information flow from eye to brain resulted in one very bad post....sorry for that folks.

Finally, it has happened. The very first of our 50 states to openly condemn the BSA...as an state, not just individuals jousting with the BSA and its position. But an entire state!! That is truly amazing. And it would seem to speak volumes regarding where the millions of residents in that state stand. Yes, I know that's one heck of a lousy generalization. But, fact seems to be that there's no voice being put to the issue by those who would say that this is not representative of the population, only of the elected and appointed officials. (Is there a difference?) How can Scouting

BINGO...!!!!! We have a winnah...!!! packsaddle...!!!

Our troop also never found itself blessed with those of the "actor" personality. At least, not in a planned forum. Hence...no skits. Now, what they did like to do was assist in the creating, editing, planning, and narrating of the (sometimes) audio (more often than not) video presentations that became more than just a slide or video show. They became background to the awards presentations that were going on. It began with a couple of adult leaders who continuously took slide pictures at all Scout events, and turned them into slide shows eventually choreographed with music (and not al

I've always been of the mind that there is no better place for a boy to fail than in Scouting. Why? Because there are so many around him ready to pick him up and get him back on the trail, while helping to reinforce the "lesson learned" idea. That's part of the beauty of Scouting. Setting Scouts up to fail is a whole different, and undesirable path. One which we should not be using, even if the intentions are noble.

Gags, I think the key to using the SM minute can be stated in one word...relevancy. When I first learned of and started to use the SM minutes, I rarely made the connection between what was going on in the troops life at that moment. But eventually I began to see that making the SM minute more than just an arbitrary fable, but something that embraced real current events in the troop could be an attention getter. Planned or recent trips? Meeting agendas? Good or bad experiences by a Scout or 2 or 10? Basically taking in the big view of where the troop was, what they were working on, the pro

A good follow-up question to Ed's would be... OK, now tell me why you think we should approve your application for Eagle... What I always looked for by that question was the level of confidence that the candidate could put forth that his abilities, his energies, his leadership, and his performance were worthy of the Eagle Award. I used to get the biggest kick out of hearing a worthy candidate, in response telling me that..."I deserve it. I've earned it." Indeed!! Hurrah for the boy who you know deserves it....and he knows, too. Confidence without being overly self-assured.