Sarge

Since most boys at the beginning of Tigers are not very proficient readers, odds are they won't be standing on stage when it's their turn to present the colors with their books in hand to do the Promise. 'Learn and say' to me means memorize.

But we have gotten off topic.

The parents are responsible for seeing that their son is signed off for what he has completed. It is the DL's duty to document and pass along to the AC a list of all finished requirements for each boy every month.

It is the AC's job to see that those lists are properly charted for the pack and submitted to the council office in a timely manner so that the awards will arrive in time for the next Pack meeting.

Check with your Council office. If the den is required to file a permit for outings with a Troop and none was ever filed, the supposed event should be considered invalid and therefore incomplete.

Do people really have nothing better to do with their time then hack a boy scout website? Pathetic.

You're in for an interesting ride with this crew...

'Undoubtedly the book will sell millions and the Palins will reap the rewards. The conservative-leaning news shows will promote the book - the same news shows that slammed NBC for its video on Obama.'

And the liberal media will slam the book - The same shows that promoted the Obama video.

Isn't symetry a beautiful thing?

My den is aiming for badge presentation at the B&G on Feb 27.

My son just received his totem and 2 beads Friday. He has completed enough requirements for 3 beads, but finished 6-9 after the 'deadline' for awards this month. He will get it at our next Pack meeting in January.

Most of the boys have earned one, but a couple are lagging behind and didn't get any. They are new and (within the last month) and need to finish their Bobcat.

With a lul in meetings coming up due to the holidays (only 2 more before the end of the year, including our family holiday party), we are encouraging all the boys and their parents to be up to 3 beads when we get back in January.

That way, we can award all 14 boys with their Wolf Badges at the end of February.

I generally transport my son and one of his friends to and from scouting events, if his dad can't make it. I have them wearing their full uniform. If it's a long trip, (over an hour to our Cub camp events) I let them ride without the neckerchiefs/slides until we get close. It's a pride thing, not an insurance thing.

And now that I've been officially accepted by the Pack/Council as an Asst. Leader, I'm always in uniform for all events.

Yes, found that out the hard way last year when my son was using my old shirt from the 80's. Learned to throw some stitches around them to keep them in place. Like I said, I use it for a temp holding so I can be sure they're in the right place and straight before I sew. Nothing's more frustrating than going all the way around a patch, only to find out it shifted on you and is now crooked.

I'm one of those guys that's a bit anal about appearances...

Not worth it.

With the plastic badge holders for rank and arrow points, it's not needed there.

Council patches, numerals and such already have the heat activated glue on them that serve well for temporary placement holding while you stitch.

As a thought, if the scout and/or adult partner has to pay an entry fee for the excursion, tack on and extra buck to cover the cost of a patch.

Often times, the pack covers the fee for the Cubs in my pack, but adults/siblings need to pay a nominal fee, usually 3-8 bucks apiece. One extra dollar wouldn't hurt much there.

That way, you could back-fill your treasury since you have to order the patches in advance. Especially custom ones.

I know tigers are allowed to repeat a elective for credit, but nothing is written in the Wolf book about a re-do.

Thus why I'm asking.

With the way the charts are in the back, it seems like a one-and-done type deal.

A thought occurred to me the other day, and perhaps I can gain some

perspective from this group.

Why are there 129 Arrow Electives in the Wolf book?

Based simply on the fact that the boys need to complete an even 10 per

arrow point, you would think they would make an even number.

Finish 120 electives, they get 12 arrowheads. But, if a Wolf scout

completes ALL 129 electives, they technically should still only get 12

arrowheads.

Is the fear of the number 13 *THAT* bad that they couldn't add one

more topic?

Personally, I think earning an odd number would look neater, having 2

even columns with the gold cap.

Finishing all 129 electives is, of course, hypothetical.

Any insights?

Certainly not intending for that to happen.

I understand that people from the National office and Supply have been known to be wrong. I don't want to put full faith in one persons statements.

I'll tack the red numerals until the new insignia guide comes out. I like the green ones anyways.

KIS-MIF.

Welcome.

Having a boy in scouts is an exciting proposition. I have one in Wolves and another who will be joining up in a couple years.

Only advice I'd give is to be sure to find the 'right Pack'.

I transferred my son midway through his Tigers because we were miserable with our first group.

I didn't do any research or talk to the leaders beforehand. Picked it because it was around the corner from my house.

The den we're in now is a 25 minute drive, but he (and by association, me) is much happier.

I went to my Scout Store yesterday to pick up my shirt (I'll worry about affording the pants as camp gets closer).

Based on the 'Official' uniform pamphlets from the BSA, I had the green numerals in my hand.

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/images/pdfs/2008UniformGuide.pdf

The kindly Eagle Scout working in the store told me I had to get the red. Even when I showed him the flier. I obliged him.

Upon returning home, I called Supply Division in Irving, TX.

I spoke with a kindly gentleman by the name of James.

The official "GOSPEL" from the National Headquarters is: All Cubs (including Webelos in tan), Venturing, Cub leaders and Venturing Leaders still wear RED numbers.

Cub Leaders also still wear the blue epaulets.

ONLY BOY SCOUTS AND BOY SCOUT LEADERS WEAR THE NEW GREEN NUMBERS.

Now that that is settled, I feel better.

By the way, do the Supplex material shirts shrink at all? The XL I bought, I swim in. The Large didn't fit across my shoulders. Just need some slight shrinkage.

Advancement should be a means to an end. Not the end itself.

'The problem is too few parents want to make their scout's advancement a priority in their son's development - so those that are involved resort to MBU's and Advance-O-Ree's / etc... to substitute for parental involvement.'

This is so true.

That is the primary reason when I was younger, I only lasted one year in scouts. Didn't even finish my Wolf badge.

My dad never made it a priority for him and I was too young to stay focused myself.

His lack of interest rubbed off on me, and I quit after that one term.

I have vowed NOT to let that happen with my boys.

Just need to be careful that I'm not too overenthusiastic...

Very nice.

I think they should approach Mike Rowe (Discovery Channel's: Dirty Jobs) about doing a real scouting promo. He's an Eagle scout. Most people know who he is and listen to what he says.

Perhaps he and an astronaut or 2...

BSA wants to bring themselves back to the forefront of the American consciousness. What better way?

Welcome to our unique little troop.

Thanks guys.

Kind of what I figured, but wanted to be certain.

Was unsure because last year, my son transferred Packs in March. He was a little short for earning Tiger before the old groups B&G (didn't know it was a goal at that time...). We wrapped up his requirements and attended the moving up ceremony in May with the new pack, where he received his badge.

Afterward, we were told they were considered 'Wolves' and could start earning towards those requirements for this year.

Perhaps it was the proximity to the end of the school year that they told us this.

Thanks again.

With cubs, it's supposed to be more family oriented.

My den leader assigns one achievement for homework every 2-3 weeks. Depends on Pack nights, weeks off for holidays, etc.

We make the boys write a sentence or two describing what they did for each stage of the achievement.

This way, we can confirm that the boys actually participated IN the activity, not just having overzealous parents (read as: ME) signing things off for more awards.

We do some of the requirements in meetings (food pyramid, birdhouses, flags), but most of them are at home objectives.

We have them on pace to be finished with their Wolf badges before their Blue and Gold Banquet in February.

Not sure what happens then, though.

Do we work on electives towards arrowheads until the 'moving up ceremony', or are they technically considered finished with wolves and free to work on Bear projects for next year?

Barnes and Nobles and Borders bookstores carry them in my area. That's how I was first able to get my son interested in Scouting.

'Great big globs of...........

Greasy grimy gopher guts

Mutilated monkey meat

Little birdy dirty feet'

10 quart cans of all purpose porpoise pus

and I forgot my spoon....

I couldn't resist.

Thank you. That was very helpful.