Scoutfish

I am working on my second year. I originally told them I'd do it for 2 years, but that changed to : "As long as you want me to do it." Which all the committee and leadership were estatic over. But now I am reconsidering it. No, I'm not tired of it or burned out, but something happened that I just cannot ignore. There is a leader who ...well...it's like the CM position was created with him in mind. I made a point of ste[pping it up a notch or 12, I made sure thing were focused back around the boys instead of teh adults. I made sure things were more fun and energetic> And this guy just blossomed ! I had to step down from being the emcee at our B&G and PWD due to losing 2 family members and a freaking cold on top of that. I asked thgis guy to stand in for me and let me tell you what! I was blown away! So, even though I wouldn't mind continuing as CM for a couple more years.....I couldn't - in good conscience - be CM if this guy would be willing to step up and take trhe roll> And that goes back to how I feel the pack should work.

My bag is rated to 20 degrees and my son's is rated to 25 degrees. Bouth them both at Wal-Mart for $40.00 for mine, $35.00 for his. I think mine is slightly thicketr because it is also kingsize. I don't need the width so m uch as the length. Cool thing is, the insides are cotton/ something blend and not the slick fabric so many are made of today. Roll up thicker, alot heavier, but warm. Both are Coleman bags. One of the other parents brought his Bear age son along too ( he is our Tiger DL, but has a Webelos II son and a Bear son). Anyways, his Bear son's sleeping bag was a Bob the Builder sleping bag. I have felt pepertowels that were thicker. He said his son got cold, but he ended up snuggling in tighter and shared the blanket...which brings upm another point: A bunch of opur parents just bring 3 or 4 blankets when camping. No sleeping bags, no pads, no matresses..and then complain about how they don't care for camping. Really? I can't imagine why! WE do stress and explain again and again about bags, pads, sleeping bags/ types of fill and weight.....but you know how it is.

WOW! You get a wrapper? Ours are handed out at RT and just have a big paperclip hooked to them.

You know...that's a great idea!

It wasn't a planned thing. We went den camping this weekend with our 2nd year Webelos. At dinner time, trhe temps hovered at around 33 degrees. Woke up this morning and it was 26 degrees. Slept in tents, no structure..only heat source was our campfire. Biggest complaint we had was the scouts would have preffered mild sausage with their eggs and toast than the kinda/sorta hot flavor we actually ended up eating. Daytime temps were in high 40's, but the clear skies and bright, bright sun made it really nice out.

Okay, I do know it has been discussed before a few times, but my searches turn up nothing. So, Polar camping patches...Are the a national thing or council thing? I mean, as far as scout shops go? I looked for them on the scouting.corg scoutshop, but no luck. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks, Mark

Yaeh, I like the hippo comment! Point being the group of people are crying foul that the government says you have to OFFER - not use - the option of buying birth control and/or abortion. they are not mandating that anybody will have to use it. But in the medical world, people use birth control for more than birth control. Abortions are not only used as birthb control either. The government did not say you had to take it, just that it would be there IF you wanted to. And trhe hospital assume that only people with the exact same like beliefs will go to that hospital. That is false! I went to a Baptist Hospital for my cancer - not because of shared religious beliefs - but because the Dr who performed my first cancer surgery strongly suggested that I go to the next hospital because of their specuializing in my condition. So, if all the people who use that insurance feel the same way..then what's the problem? If they don't believe in it, then it won't get used. But if they do......then the group is denying trhem something based on different beliefs. So the government is basically saying: You are denying something based on a difference of religious opinion, and that amounts to control. NOw, this same group of people who are crying foul - about the governemnt interfering witrh people's private personal beliefs, as well as moral beliefs, .....wants to pass a Constitutional amendment - which applies to all citizens of the US- regardless of the varying and different ethical, moral , and religious beliefs. So this "morally correct" group wants to impose laws that affect everybody...no matter what the peoples beliefs are...and make it a legal , apply to all federal and state law. Really? What happened to "treat others as you want to be treated"? What happened to "do unto others" ? There has not been a day that some members of some of ( notice I am not saying all members of all groups)these religious groups have not posted on facebook or the newspaper that they are being persecuted or predjudiced against for their beliefs. Yet...they are doing the very same thing they cry out against. Definition of HYPOCRITE 1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion 2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings hypocrite adjective And I think even the hippos and hipocrits will agree with this!

What I should have said was: BSA should look at what they do, and ask, do the unit really need us Then from that point, look at the whole program, and see how great they can make ikt , with the least amount of obstructions for us to go through in order to use that prgram. Like I said, in Basement's past experiences, his district should have asked themselves in anybody in thier district really gained anything ( thus the need) by being a member of BSA. In Basement's case, I think his Co could have just ran a youth group, had twice as much fun, but without all the hassle, rules, and paying $$ to BSA every time they turn around.

Now, let me start off by saying: I have no problem witrh bing a member in good standing of BSA. I have no issue being part of a unit in a district in a council in a sector olr whatever it is that is next in area. But thinking back when Beasment was talking about district where there were no events, leaders were held back from thinking or planning fun stuff and the only thing ever scheduled were FOS presentations...well. from that point of view, shouldn't BSA worry a bit? I mean, look at it this way: Supose Basement and all the parents and scouts in his unit just sat back and talked the pros and cons of bing in BSA> For starters,, if bthey dropped out, they could use registration money elsewhere. leaders could do the same. Now, if they were just a private ( by that I mean just belonging to their own area and nor part of BSA) youth group..they would not have top follw G2SS in areas like bb gun restrictions or archery restrictions on canoeing restrictions> They could go out, rent waverunners, jet skis' dirt bikes, 4 wheelers, go watersking or canoeing whenever/ wherever they liked> They could have backyard bb gun shooting contests, They could build their own bows and arrows whenmever they wanted> Nobody would have to wast time taking YPT or worry about 2 deeps or any of the many qualms in BSA. They could go camping whenever or wherever they wanted without filling out a tour plan. No BSA to deny or turn them down. They could sell what they want, whenever they want for fundraisning. Raffle tickets or gambling all they wanted. No BSA restrictions on that either. So, from the council/ national standpoint...wouldn't you think BSA would want to make things eaier for us instead of harder. Again, I have no grudge against BSA or the rules...but thinking about the District professionals in Basement's area...... You'd think they would even figure out they were their own biggest enemy.

It's funny...I didn't even put this together until today: The very same people who are crying foul about government interfering with their religious and personal moral beliefs - when it comes to equal opportunity insurance coverage - are the VERY SAME people who are trying to get passed, a Constitutional Amendment that will define what is marriage and that will ban gay marriage FOR ALL PEOPLE , not just their own religious followers. So, correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that pretty much the definition of arrogant, hypocritical, and obnoxious behavior? So, this morally right group has no problem with state and federal laws that will rule all people based on their religion (which crushed other people's religious and personal moral ideals, but will have a hissy fit and cry foul because the government just wants them to provide fair and equal insurance coverage to all people) And the kicker is...when it comes to birth control...if all the religiously insured feel the same way (about birth control) - nobody will be using that coverage anyways. But if somebody was to plan on using the coverage...then it sounds like the religious insurance Inc is planning on controlling other peoples lives against their own planning. Yeah..it's all beginning to look clear now: It's not about one own religious freedom..it's about ones religious beliefs on others. Again, if they do not believe in the pill or abortion...then it wouldn't be a problem anyways, would it since they wouldn't be getting/using that option. Yeah, that just leave only one answer: control! Next thing you know...they will being starting the Salem witch trials all over again! Edited for clarity which unfortunately makes the humor of some of the following posts less biting. (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Tanks. I was leaning towards the patch anyways because .....we have replaced his Webelos colors 3 times now. Every time he lost it, it was during a scouting outing . Patches do not fall off .

On uniform inspection sheet, it says: Badges of rank are worn centered on the pocket above the Arrow of Light award, as shown" Okay, here's my question: Do they wear the AoL pin as my COR says is the case, or do they wear the AoL patch, which is the same size and seems to make alot more sense to me? Both are the same size. In the Cub Scout Webelos handbook, it just says that it is the only cub scout badge that can be worn on a boy scout uniform. the phrasing of the word Badge leads me to think they are talking about the patch versus the pin. I haven't found where it is specifically listed anywhere.

And although I may be ignoring my right to use the 5th Amendment here...I have mooned my share of many people. Way back when.....of course. (This message has been edited by scoutfish)

Wow! And Beavah thought I was tough by calling the law? Looking at Engineer's examples. I don't think I'd exp[ell the scouts on examples 1,2,4 or 6 Maybe he gets suspended for a meeting or two. But I'd let the troop decide. Yeah, I might give "strong" suggestions, but still let the troop handle it. #3 Carving his name. Well, it all it ends up is carving his name, I wouldn't suspend the scout,. Instead, the scout in question and myself would go visit the CD, the Ranger, or PD..or the owner if private owned facility, or park Ranger if US/ state park property. I'd have teh scout own up to it and see what reprimandss and compesation it will take to fix/ repair the damage. THis would be both a punishment to the scout as well as a lesson in responcibility. Also, this will also show that we are a responcible unit as I would hate to have our unit banned from the facility after the fact - when the damage is later discovered. #5: Yeah, this one is tricky. If by share, you mean an underage scout shares a picture with his buddies by showing them his phone which got the mesage ( and sexting IS sexual text - not photos)..I'm not so sure I'd call the law. Things to consider is if this is the first time this happened too. If it was a repeated activity, then I'd call the parents and tell them if they don't handle this right now, the law will be definantly called. Now, if the scout retexts the sexting to his friends, I have to step it up a notch. I'd call the DE or SE and explain what happened and see how to procede from there. Now, I ain't trying to sound all like Beavah, but there is a difference between an underage person sending another underage person a sext message and an adult sending an underage person a sext message. In this case, mentality anmd maturity do mean a big difference. plus in this case, the sender is the real culptit, not the reciever. Sure, the scout ain't showing any tact or class in sharing, but that sorta falls under the " chances of sender beware". Still don't condone it, but I do not see this as the same as child pornography. Again, if an adult sextes a child..law will be called immediately ! When I say I would be willing to call the law on scouts, I am talking about knives being pulled, extreme cases of physical altercations, strong threats of violence or intended physical ( or worse) harm. Not gonna call the law because a scout from one patrol "steals" the flag of another patrol.

If a scout pulls a knife on another scout...I'll call the authorities. No, I am not concerned with being polite to his parents first. And you know what...no matter who the scout is, or how long he has been bad, they start somewhere at some time. The incident at the troop campout might very well be the very first time. Yeah, it does start somewhere, and this incident may be THAT start! And Beavah, If a scouts schooling, future reputation or future carrer is ruined..tough for him. He should have thought of that before pulling a knife. If a scout threaten to kill somebody and then procedes to inflict bodily harm, yeah, we will kick hjim out of the troop...while also calling LE. I am a scouter, not a mediator of law enforcement and definantly not a protector of scouts future jobs/reputations, etc.. And as has happened so many times before in so many different place..just because the law shows up does not garantee anybody will be arrested> Believe it or not, police has the ability and desrection to determine in a law has ben broken, violated or pushed> The cop may just look at me and say: "Sorry, I can talk to him, but nothing molre." He might say: " WE'll write up a report for a future record, but this incident alone dosn't merit taking action. Or he might say:" THis is more serious than you realize, good thing you called. Who knows, he might look at me, smirk and call me a p*ssy. But I will have no regets calling him. Now, youi can coddle a scout and say : "Poor thing, somebody went and ruoined his entire life and it was completely not his fault in any way whatsoever!" You can also blame the car for drunk driving too. ". They exist to catch and to punish those who have violated society's laws." And you know what...detaining people against their will, pulling knives, physicall attacks, and putting people in dangerous situations are illegal.

Stopped in te scoutshop today to pick up some AoL patches, pins, and mother's pins. Annell ( Scoutshop manager) mentions that they are having a big sale and stuff is rotating each week. Then tells me jac-shirts on sale too. I ask her if that was a sign of anything and she said yes- they want to get rid of them so they do not take up spaceon the racks this summer. They would rather sell them than to shove back in the stock room when they break out all the summer stuff. Pretty simple , right?

Damn, Basement..sounds like you wore some people down...awesome job! Shortridge: I have kinda/sorta done this before. I say kinda /sorta because I have done it, just not with anybody higher than a DL. I took our DL aside and told him that, he was alot like an older car: They don't build them like that anymore, and the craftsmanship today is never gonna be like it was back then. Stle today just isn't compared to the old cars...but, at the same time, the new cars are built a little safer, more efficent, and that's what the younger crowd buys today. Cars are constantly changing and evolving. Every time you turn around, each manufacturer has come out with a newer or better way of doing the same old thing. Fresher ideas that really appeal to todays younger generation. NOw, even though there is nothing wrong with the old car, it's time to let the new cars have their day. Yeah, strange as this sounds, it has worked for me in cub scouts and at work. I'm an analogy kinda guy, so that's what I do best!

"Yeh call the law when you have no alternative but to remove the boy from the troop permanently, and yeh feel he is such a risk to society that yeh feel it is necessary to potentially end his schooling, remove him from his family, curtail his future job opportunities and put him behind bars for da protection of others. Nah, If I call the law, it is for one of two reasons: To stop something, or remove someone for the immdediate safety of others. As far as ending schooling, curtailing future jobs, and put behind bars...well, they make that decision themselves. I am not tghe one who caused them to act that way, and I am not responcible for their actions. Therefore I am not responcible for where they end up either. They are accountable for their own actions, not me. But being in a more ruralish setting, I am friends witha couple law enforcement officers. We have one Wildlife Resource officer as a parent, and a county commisioner as well as two retireed officers ( one was a sheriff and one was a cop) . SEveral of our DL's are friends with, grew up with, or are related to law enforcement officers. WE can have an officer come out and talk to people, give warning and also act as mediators during incients., Sometimes they come out just to back us up. Not every phone call to a police offiver ends with an arrest. Sometimes they do just come out and stop stuff. ( You ever watch COPS ? Not everybody gets arrested every time). Of course, in my area, sometimes sheriff deputies will catch you doing some mischief and will take you to your parents instead of the jailhouse. And trust me, that can definantly be worse than gatting arrested!

Eagle92, Don't know if this tells you anything or not , but gona tell you about our camp getting accredited last year: This was the first time I volunteed to work staff at a council event. More specifically, resident camp. I was going to be 1 of the 2 wood craft instructors for the Webelos. WEll, come Saturady morning, we have a quick meeting with PD and he tells us that we are 12 people short of what was expected. But...if we all pull our bootstarps tight, we might just pull it off without anybody noticing. Then says: "Oh yeah, camp inspectors are coming from Va to certify us for camp acreditation. So, instead of being 1 of 2 people who are going to run a woodcraft activity, I end up running 3 woodc raft activities, and two leatherworking activities under a moderate sized shelter. At any given time, I had 4 to 10 packs coming through . Wait...did I mention that the online registration program had hiccup and that over 750 people were registered for a camp designed to accomidate 350 sttendees? So, everytime a group of scouts came through, it seemed like each group wasd getrting bigger and bigger. IOnstead of instructing the scouts, I actually ended up instructing the unit leaders who ebded up instructing thier own scouts . Had to do this because there was no way I could do it for everybody coming through in the numbers they did. So anyways, at one point, so many people were coming in/ lining up, that I ened up standing on top of one of the picnic tables and yelling "OKAY...EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO DO SOMETHING....YOU HAD BETTER LISTEN UP AND LISTEN GOOD!" Then I gave a speach about what activities we had, how we were short handed, why the leaders and parents would have to help out instead of sit back and watch.... So, aroun 1pm, we enjoy a quick 20 minute break that was really supposed to be a 1 hour break...and I see the two camp inspectors walking by. WE nod at each other , say hellow, and they keep on walking by. WEll, that night we had another leaders meeting after the campfire ceremony. The CD and PD were talking about how e passed with flying colors and that we pulled it off even though being short handed. I then said something to the effect that I was glad they came by while I was on break. Then the PD smiled at me and said: "No, we came by while you were standing on top of a picnic table telling everybody to shut up and listen if they wanted to do something fun." Somehow, the fact That Istood up and laid out the law impressed the inspectors. Apparently, too mant activity instructors will let scouts run around and do anything just to keep the peace. So, it may not mean anything, but may show some insight to how inspectors look at things.

Well, I guess things are a bit different here in my area. We are a bit more rural. We know about half the police officers or Sheriffs deputy's on a first name basis. At our council camp ( 2 hours away) I do not know any of the local law Enforcement, but about half the staff of any given event at camp do. Some of our staff are officers of the law, Some are magistrates, some or police. It does make it eassier to have a officer show up and give a good talk or lecture or just sacre somebody. I guess in a more urban area like yours, there is less familiarity and stricter responce. Not trying to sound like Matberry or that Sheriff Andy is in charge, but depoending on what you do around here, you may get picked up by the law and taken home to your parents, which can be - and has been - worse than going to jail!

I say the SE because this woman is going to cause leaders (AKA paid registration fees) to drop out. When those leaders drop out, they will take their own scouts( AKA paid registration fees) with trhem too. Now, with a smaller membership number, plus no leaders who actually stood up to volunteer to be DL's ADL's, etc... you are going to lose more scouts ( AKA paid registrations) because there is nobody to lead meetings or come up with activities. There will be no leadership ergo: no program. So now a uint will basically fold. DE will not be happy about his district numbers or $$$$ numbers. Friends talk to friends, neighbors gospi with nieghbors. Parents own, are related to, or friends with local buisnesses and civic groups. hearing that a district or council is pushing scouts away by lack of action can and will hurt donations / FOS funds. The SE - who's main job is fund raising, going out rubbing elbows with the local business owners/operators to secure next years funding. Basically raising his pay check for next year - will feel the problem even if he does not personally care about a CSAC hurting a scouts feelings. No, this isn't really the kinda thing you would bring to an SE, but I bet you if you do bring it to him...and he sees the financial impact that could result......he'll see that something gets done quick.

I agree with calico also. Having a broken home life might be a reason why a boy acts this way..but DOES NOT excuse any of it. Yeah, I'd call the law too. Just calling the law will not result in a boy going to jail. It will not mean he will be handcuffed and slammed into the back of the car and hauled off. In alot of case, the law wil show up, investigate and give you some options..many of which do not inviolve the youth being arrested. But can/will result in a parent getting called by the officer and told to come pick up the youth. If nothing else, the 17 year old will realize that he does not have free license to continue and he will also see that the troop will not put up with this type of activity. Now consider this: The boy is 17 and nobody is doing anything yet. Well, when he turns 18,. many people will do something about it because he is a legal adult . Other adults will take an oppertunity to "straighten" him out behind the woodshed, and parents will be more likely to sue and press charges as you will be dealing with an adult, not a child any more. If this boy is allowed to continue on this path, he will be in jail before he turns 19.

THis is simpler than it sounds. Everything you told us...put it in a letter to the SE, along with thoe stuff written down by others. I do know what will catch the SE's eye quicker than anything else: Scouts dropping out from units/ BSA and not attending czmp anymore.. I bet the SE will respond quickly ( via the DE) to the thought of losing $$$. Anad, it's not personal towards the CS Activity Chair. It's a simple concept that keeps me focused every time we plan a campout, event, activity: It's for the boys. It's for the boys, not the adults. We need to plan for, plan around, and make it about the boys. If we lose the boys, we have nothing and we might as well shut down now. And that's where this is right now: You are at the point, you are not only going to lose some boys, but lose alot of adult volunteers which ( due to lack of activities and volunteers) will cause you to lose more boys. Take the CS Activities chair aside, and tell her thanks for her time and service, but in the interest of the boys, it's time that she step down or be steeped down. Sure, you may not have her books and plans, but an event of polite, fun, chaos will still go over 100 times better than organized event of spite, hateful remarks and hurt feelings. It's for the boys.

I was in a tri county disaster drill way back wehn on Topsail Island . I was one of the victems of the tornado that threw a telephone pole through the windshiled of the car I was driving. So we also had a life flight helicopter anbd crew there as well. I was the "guest passenger" of teh helicopter. Anyways, one of the coordinators has a really cool moulage kit. Not one of the ones you buy, but homemade. For wounds, he used silly putty with blush brushed over for a real; skin color. He used Kayro Syrup with food coloring for blood ( thick and sticky - not runny watered down stuff). He's use blue and black makeup ( maybe eye shadow?) and lightly smear in on different places them go over it with white chalk dust to create brused, banged up or pale skin. Matter of fact, I did scratch myself nicely after crawling into the car (after they used to Jaws of Life to "cut me out" ) and somebody commented that the tech didn't do such a good job with that particular wound because it didn't look realistic enough.! Yeah, blabbing away again. Just meant to say that using moulage and fake wounds and hands on training just can't be beat.

Can also mean a change in design. Remember uniform shirts? Seems like every time I turn around, tere is a new shirt coming out, so the old style is put on a huge sale. Never in my size of course, but on sale none the less. From my local council facebook page: "Lots of sales and promotions coming up at the Cape Fear Scout Shop! Stop by weekly to see what's on sale that week, or stop by and sign up for email notifications straight from National Supply! Can we say "BOGO"? YES! BOGO coming soon!! Sign up today and be the first of you friends to find out when! "