scoutldr

Depending on what you have and how old they are, some could be quite valuable to a collector. Suggest the first step should be to catalog them and look them up in a Scout Collectibles price guide to get an idea of what you have. Another suggestion...at our OA Fall Fellowship every year, we have a patch auction of donated memorabilia.

Hocky-tocky oombah!

TP says his butt is triangular.

If that's what the crew wants, it's fine.

Dear Troop 53, September 21, 2004 I am writing to thank you for your most generous gift of a "Pocket American Flag". Unfortunately, in the deserts of Afghanistan where I am stationed it is often very hot, which causes us to sweat through our uniforms. Because of this, I decided not to keep the flag in my pocket, but instead hung it on the wall in my room in our new barracks. I tell you, when you are so far from those beautiful seas of Iowa corn, when there is nothing around for miles but grey desert wasteland, when you haven't seen your wife or family for 8 months, there is nothing, NOTHING more beautiful than our American flag. She's like a small piece of home - a large piece of hope. Thank you for the kind gift. In the card that came with the flag you wrote: "Thank you for defending our country and our freedom." What I am about to write I wish I could share with every American like you who supports the war and our soldiers. Please remember that the war against terrorism, the war to protect our home and our very lives is not fought by soldiers alone. But rather, we are all in this fight together. And you , with your gifts to soldiers, are every bit as important in this fight as we soldiers are. You keep us going and you remind us that America is every bit worth defending as she ever was. So I thank you all again, and I will remember your kindness for years to come. God bless you all! Sincerely, Corporal Brent S. Reedy Iowa Army National Guard

The DE's serving the same council as I wear "business clothes" (shirt and tie) to meetings as often or more so than I see them in uniform. At camp, they are always in uniform. Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason...I just thought that was what they did. I have NEVER seen the SE in uniform. In fact, we very rarely see him at all.

Yeah, I know the "book version", too. That's the same thing the book says about the Training Committee. In reality, it didn't work that way, and yours' truly got stuck doing ALL the training. That's the main reason I'm looking to change jobs after 2 years. Being in a military community with highly transient people, it's rare to be able to find a "staff" who will be around long enough to actually learn the job and be useful. So, I'm looking at this with an eye toward, "would I be willing to do it myself if I have to?" Being Day Camp director is a definite "no way." Just heard from a fellow Training Chair in a neighboring district...their Fall Camporee didn't happen due to lack of a volunteer to be Campmaster. Is it my imagination, or are people becoming more selfish with their time? NOTE to OGE: Salary for a District Day Camp Director???? Must be nice!

As I recall, the discussion got quite heated. IMHO, the reason for the rule is that the killing of other humans, even though simulated, violates several points of the Scout Oath and Law. Somehow 12 year olds never see it that way.

Hmmmm...Cub Day Camp. That could be a deal-breaker. We traditionally have a heck of a time finding Day Camp Directors and staff. One of the districts had to cancel Day Camp last year as a last resort. You have to find not only someone willing and eager, but who also doesn't have a day job. That narrows the field significantly.

I have been asked to consider becoming chair of our District Camping Committee. Our District is only 2 years old, and we have never had a Camping Committee. What little I know tells me the committee works closely with the OA chapter, promotes camping among the units, and supports the Council Camping Committee dealing with camp properties. Is there a more complete job description? Anything else I should know? I've been told that planning Camporees comes under the Activities Committee, not Camping.

What is your location? Your method sounds a bit different from what the BSA normal methods are in the US. (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Well, the federal minimum wage is 5.15 per hour. The pay for staff should start there and go up based on skills required and experience. (not age...that's illegal). I have had many young scouts whom I have encouraged to apply for camp staff. The first year, they are expected to work for free as a CIT. Then they get paid peanuts. The excuse is they get free room and board (a tent and a corn dog at the dining hall), too, so that equates to minimum wage or better. The kids laugh at me. Even MacDonalds can do better than that, and these kids need money for cars and college. "It's the economy, stupid." Love of scouting won't pay for tuition.

http://www.as-e.com/products_solutions/z_backscatter.asp Similar to the unit used to x-ray your briefcase at the airport, only on a much larger scale.

I turned 18 just as the red berets, skill award belt loops and sissyfied Handbook were introduced...luckily. My current profession is at the beginning of this thread, but since we are going back in history... Greeting card sales (those ads in Boys' Life, c1962) Shoe Salesman (Kinney, Thom McAn) Finer Mens' Clothing sales Substitute High School Teacher VD Clinic Manager and Field Investigator (State Health Dept) Shipyard Industrial Hygienist College Adjunct Instructor Asbestos Worker Instructor - Laborers' Intl Union Training Center Partner in consulting firm

You don't say what denomination you are, but in the Lutheran Church, and probably other Liturgical denominations, the Pastor can use the "Order for the Installation of New Officers", which can be modified on the fly to suit the particular flavor of position that is being filled (ushers, acolytes, SS teachers, scout leaders, etc). Oh, and by the way, the word is "litany". P.S.: Welcome to the campfire! Stay awhile!(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I think that Bullion refers to the thread, which is actually metal wire. The best example of a bullion patch is the Fleur-de-lis patch which is worn on a blue blazer for the dress uniform. Not to be confused with mylar thread which is plastic but looks shiny like gold or silver.

Agree with Rooster. Your first call should have been to the COR. Let them decide what action to take, including calling for an external audit to verify that a crime was committed. For the other unit leaders to conduct the audit is probably not very credible.

I think the book answer is that Ships and Crews, as part of the Venturing program, are free to decide their own uniform and its parts. That would make the answer "yes".

All of the above items are permitted in my unit. Electronics must be used within the privacy of one's tent and with headphones that cannot be heard by others. No sheath knives (council rule). Use of knives and matches ok with Totin Chip/Fireman Chip. Summer camp meds must be turned in to health lodge. For other trips, leaders do not handle meds unless parent requests it. I know of one unit where all of the members have to have long sleeved Scout uniform shirts, campaign hat, and all of them have the same poncho, flashlight, pocketknife, boots,unit t-shirt, etc. They are generally not permitted to wear the "activity" uniform. IMO, those leaders need to get a life, unless of course, all of those items were donated to the troop for the boys' use.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Gabe said, "An addendum then is this: what about "ADD" cases and other such anomalies? We had one boy who was incorrigable, except sometimes when his meds were working to calm the little livewire down. It was hard on everyone because if we held him to a regular standard, he would not have lasted a month in the troop. I do believe they asked him to leave after a year of disrespect and general insanity on outings and troop and patrol meetings." Consider this: To hold ADD kids to a different, more lenient standard is not fair to anyone. Kids and parents need to know what the standard is...for everyone. I firmly believe that kids will rise to the occasion once they figure out that there is no other option...and that mom and dad will not be around to pick up the slack or make excuses for them. When they get into college and the work force, no one will care that they "just can't focus" and "that's just the way their brain is wired." What counts will be results...and the scout needs to figure out how to get there... with or without medication. Too harsh? I don't think so. I have adult ADD and one of my sons has it. You have to overcome and adapt to the world...the world doesn't have to adapt to you.

When I was in school, the teachers' favorite line was "I didn't fail you...you got the grade you earned." Likewise, Scouters do not "fail" Scouts. We simply verify when the scout has completed the BSA-prescribed requirements. We don't make the requirements, we just keep track of their completion. Nowadays more importance is placed on self-esteem than on learning to be prepared for and how to handle life's hard knocks. As an employer, I don't particularly want someone who has never known failure...because their version of success doesn't count...mine does. Too much self-esteem is not a desirable quality.

District training is free to all units who participate in Popcorn. Summer camp, we get 2 free adults. Any others who want to go, we split the cost equally among all of us. Woodbadge, Philmont, etc is at our own expense. Camping trips, adults pay for and cook their own food and pay their own camporee registration fees. We pay for our own membership fees. The troop even pays the recharter fee because the COR doesn't. We've been paying for gas out of pocket and claiming IRS mileage, but with gas headed back to $2 a gallon, we are going to start reimbursing the drivers. I buy my uniforms on Ebay for about half price. I even bought a brand new Venturing shirt for $15 because it was in my size (X-fat) and I might need it one day.

There is no "try". There is either "do" or "do not". "Do your best" is for Cub Scouts.

Perhaps the Unit Commissioner should do his/her job, which is to keep an ear to the ground for potential unit problems and recommend solutions to the District Commish before anyone else knows it's a problem. I agree. These "mega-units" and "mega-dens" do the boys a disservice. In every den of 13 boys, there are between 13-26 potential den leaders. That should be more than enough to work with.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

My mind is made up! Don't try to confuse me with facts!