scoutldr

I found amusement in those who would pick and taunt and was even more amused at those who took the bait and ran with it. Reminded me of my sister and I growing up, or watching a bunch of Webelos interact. And these were grown adults. Now they have gotten ticked, taken their ball and glove and stomped on home, thus "depriving" us of their expertise. Oh well. Their loss. We still have enough to field a team. After all, "There's no CRYING in baseball!!!!" All right...who's on first? Who's got first ups? Let's have FUN!!!(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Perhaps I don't understand the Vigil "honor". What I have observed are: A new DE is assigned the job of OA staff advisor, and within 2 years she is wearing a Vigil sash. Scouters with 30+ years of quiet service to their units who are still "Brotherhood", although they make sure that they deliver a good program and that their scouts get to every chapter meeting, camporee, Ordeal, Fall Fellowship, summer camp, etc. Which is the more worthy contribution to Scouting? Is this even a criteria for Vigil? Or is it a selection based on visibility and familiarity?

These have been out of production for close to 30 years now. I know of no other source other than eBay, thrift stores, estate sales and collectors. Unless you are with a Venture Crew, you can't wear them with the current uniform anyway.

The current issue of BL sports a picture of a brand new Eagle in Field Uniform, wearing the old 60's style overseas cap. I have to admit it looks good, however my understanding is that you don't mix uniform parts from different eras. If you want to wear a 1966 uniform, you wear all of it, not the parts you like. Apparently the editors of BL are not as obsessed about proper uniforming as some of us are. PS: I don't remember red stripes down the leg...only the Marines had that. We had red piping around the front pocket flaps which could be buttoned up or down.

42 C = 107.6 F (hot as hell -- is that what you meant? Equivalent to the hottest areas of the US - Calif-Arizona desert) 42 F = 5.6 C (cool - equiv to our November on the mid-atlantic coast) www.onlineconversion.com (neat site to bookmark)

BSA-bugler: Does the biblical law against tattoos have a higher ranking than the one against eating shrimp and putting cheese on your burger?

It's ok, OGE. "Geometric relationships" have nothing to do with homosexuals or atheists. Didn't mean to trigger your math anxiety.

Actually it's both. "tan" is a trig function. A "tangent" is a geometric relationship. The tangent function is defined by tan(x)= sin(x)/cos(x) The word "tangent" also has an important related meaning as a line or plane which touches a given curve or solid at a single point. These geometrical objects are then called a tangent line or tangent plane, respectively. Class dismissed.

Became a Bobcat in 1962. The rest is, as they say, history.

Reminder: just because nobody's calling you a jerk doesn't mean they don't think you are one. Personally, I like freedom of speech...it tends to dispel ambiguity.

The site could be a great resource for Scouters. As it is, I don't see much there, other than some forms which you really have to hunt for. For instance, on line ordering of all catalog items, all pubs in .pdf format for free download, rules and regulations, etc. There is a section for the Professionals, but it's password protected.

Did a quick Google, Fuzz. Indian Mound Scout Reservation is near Milwaukee. Apparently there is a mound in the image of a turtle (effigy) on the shore of the lake, some 200+ feet in length, discovered in 1851. Thanks for wanting to do a good job, dkong. I assume you are probably a first year staff member. Since you have access to a computer, do some Internet research on the history of the area and the Native Americans who lived there. Remember that Wolf scouts (Cub scouts?) are usually around 7-8 years old, so you have to keep their attention. You need to be a good story-teller and try to take their minds back to that era while you give your talk. Whatever you do, don't read from notes. Know your topic and just talk about it in a conversational tone. This is what the best teachers do. Know your stuff, be friendly and animated (lots of motion), and involve the Cubs in what your're doing. Being lectured to for more than 5 minutes is extremely boring when you're 7 years old.

The state plate of Hawaii has a rainbow on it...and everyone knows what THAT means!

Well, NJ, that very subject has been raised in VA. Every year, hundreds of requests for special plates are sent to the legislature, and each one is considered if it makes it to the floor. Meanwhile, they don't have time to pass the state budget. The DMV already has authority to approve/disapprove "vanity" plates. And if one slips by, any offended constituent can protest and have it pulled from the streets. Since the plates remain the property of the Commonwealth, I, for one, cannot justify plates with religious messages on them (LUV GSUS). I am not anti-religion, but I mean, let's be consistent. The concept of having special plates has been challenged, as well. Some police agencies are complaining that some designs are so complex, it's hard to make out the license number from a distance (the "Tiger" plate of PA comes to mind). I would have no problem issuing special plates to the following: those convicted of DUI, deadbeat parents, and registered sex offenders. (This message has been edited by scoutldr)

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I like Eammon's idea for a short trip. I recently gave my niece one for her birthday...it will work all over town, not just at one store. Most colleges have their own version of a debit card now, too. THey work anywhere on campus, including the book store, coke machines, washers and dryers, library copy machines, etc. I have mixed feelings about them...sure it's more convenient, but when my son wanted to move out of the dorm into an apartment, I took what I would have spent on room and board and divided it by 12 and sent him a check every month. It was up to him to manage the money and pay his rent, food, gas, laundry, cable, internet, etc. He did an admirable job...got an "A" in "Life 101". I think that's a more educational experience than just having a "magic money card" that mysteriously keeps giving and giving. Word to the wise...my sister in law always gives me a Starbucks gift card for Christmas. I just found out the hard way that if you don't use them regularly, they deduct a monthly service fee, soon making the card worthless. I understand this is a common practice.

Snowmobiling is mentioned in the G2SS as a winter sport activity and is not specifically prohibited. According to a State of WV website, they have had over 75 ATV fatalities in WV in the past 3 years. Most states have laws with minimum ages for ATV operation. It's probably a case where the BSA lawyers said "Just say no."

Here is the best link I've found for all scouting-related plates: http://www.angelfire.com/wy/gilwell/plates.html Why do states do it? Since Virginia started customized and specialty plates, it has become a big money maker. The BSA plate will likely cost $10 in addition to the normal plate fee of $29.50 per year. If you want customized plates, that's an additional $10 per year...all pure profit. Some of the plates are "revenue sharing", that is, the organization gets a percentage...they are $25 a year extra. The first attempt at a BSA plate was not revenue sharing, it was started as a troop service project in a neighboring council, just for PR purposes. My SE was not interested in promoting it, or even allowing flyers and applications to be made available in the Council Scout Shop. PS: The Sons of Confederate Veterans met stiff opposition and had to sue the Commonwealth for the rights to a plate. The whole specialty plate program was at risk over that one. PPS: The Order of the Eastern Star is the women's equivalent of the Shriners...a branch of Freemasonry. Not a "religious organization"...at least not any more so than the BSA. My wife's Grandmother was a "Past Worthy Matron"...a really big deal to hear her tell it (God rest her soul).(This message has been edited by scoutldr)(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I once heard that Trails End was a wholly owned subsidiary of the BSA, but I can't substantiate that rumor. On the TE web site, click on "history"...it appears that an enterprising marketing guy found a popcorn vendor to provide product for a council...it grew to several councils and became a corporation unto itself and the rest is history. It also appears that BSA is TE's only customer. Now, I freely admit I'm a govt bureaucrat, but seems to me that such a large contract should be at least reviewed and put up for re-bid every five years or so. Competition - good. Monopoly - bad. I don't take popcorn orders at work any more. Got tired of hearing, "what a rip-off." BSA fundraising policies merely state that you have to provide something of value in exchange for their money...it doesn't say it has to be a fair price.

See Public message: From the Guide to Safe Scouting: Unauthorized and Restricted Activities The following activities have been declared unauthorized and restricted by the Boy Scouts of America: All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are banned from program use. ATVs are defined as motorized recreational cycles with three or four large, soft tires, designed for off-road use on a variety of terrains.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20040708-113558-3906r.htm Virginia legislature has authorized a new license plate to honor the Boy Scouts of America. Authorization means the plate will be put into production if 350 paid applications are received within 180 days. Steve Cozza of Scouting For All has protested. A similar plate was authorized in 1999, but supporters were unable to obtain the required number of paid commitments.

Look at the Sony MiniDisk. My son used one to interview visiting Rock stars when he worked at the campus radio station. I'm no expert, but I believe you can record to a MD (unit is about $200), then download the digital file to your hard drive and transfer it to CD-R.

What a scout does before he gets to the meeting is his parents' problem. I have a scout who rides his bike to and from meetings...what's the diff?

ISTP The MBTI merely reflects your "preference"...those areas where you are most comfortable. The idea is to recognize the traits of others and adapt to them.

Ditto. My perception is that most scouts now are spoonfed MB in their troops and the rest they get at Summer Camp. Never had a request from outside my troop, even though I'm on the District List.