SctDad

Well last week we went to the District awards banquet. They were giving out leadership awards and I was awarded Cubmaster of the year. Surprised that I was even nominated, considering some of the other Cubmasters that were out there. I was surprised. Not to mention that a lot of the other leaders in the district congradulated me and told me that they had been hearing a lot of good things about how Cub Scouting in our County is growing and getting more active due to our pack. I guess some hard work does get recognized. Now here's to making sure that there is another great year to have.

Things they say and things they do. THere will always be the memories that we as leaders will have. THis weekend we were at a district campout for a veterans day celebration. One of our new Bear Cubs was making his S'mores (The first one he ever made) I helped him make his Smore and made sure that it was good and gooey. He then turned and walked towards his mother. I thought he was going to just show her. He walked up to her and asked "Mama, have you ever had a Smore before?" When she told him no, he handed his smore to here and said, "Here, you can have this one then" It was sweet and made me smile. I see a bright future in this child. Anyway I think these boys will keep teaching me every meeting and every outing. Here's to many future years of scouting.

I would say l;ook at each scout individually and see what kind of fundraising they have doen. If you have a boy that has raised $5,000 by him self, then he should be paid for, no questions asked. But the boy that turned in $9 just to get the patch or did the absolute bare minimum, then look a little closer. We are going through this type of dillema at this time. We are trying to go to a Cub Scout Encampment this summer. The cost is $105 per cub/webelos and $45 per adult. Although it does not require the parents to attend if the boys are going with the unit. They just HIGHLY reccommend a 5:1 Cub:Adult Ratio. I do not think that this will be an issue. We are trying to figure out a way to raise funds to help defray the costs

I think that the whole idea of the braclet got lost in the translation. THey were talking about how male leaders on a girl scout camp, they are required to wear a bracelet, making them "marked" as if to say, this is a male, yes we know he is here. I could understand if that male was a visitor. But then all visitors should wear them. I feel that if I am required to wear a braclet as an adult leader, then that is a form of discrimination. I went through YP training to be a Cub Scout leader, and I will probably have to go through similar training if I decide to be an adult leader to my daughters troop. I believe that there could be a double standard, but people need understand that not ALL men are evil. some of us are truly interested in helping.

This yellow ribbon in question, is it a patch or a small Support the Troops Ribbon. If it is a patch that is earned, then worn as temporary insignia is OK. If it a support the troops ribbon, then I would say wear it on certain occasions, veterans day, memorial day, etc. Or if you are doing something that is directly related to supporting the troops. This can be working with a veterans organization. (VFW, American Legion, SAL) The yellow ribbon is something that I see as over used. If you wear it on certain occasions, when it is significant, then it has more meaning. That is my opinion. As for putting them on the uniform on that special occasion, BSA, GSUSA, Police, EMS, Fire Dept, and just about everyone else in and out of uniform will have one on certain occasions. Why burn energy when it can be used towards something more productive.

Thank you folks You bring up many good points about recycling and using it as anti-smoking education. This helps me with my crafts and stuff in the future. I think I may have over thought this a little, maybe my scout parents are not that bad. I think they may actually see it as a craft object and not a tobacco container

"They just don't train Cubs like they used to" That's why we get them as Cubs. Teaching them the right way and the importance of it.

I would get the Tour Permit filled out. if you live near your council office like I do then all you should have to do is hand carry it in. You can get teh results in the same day. The two weeks is great if you have to mail it in. Here is another method that you may want to try http://www.eccbsa.org/forms/Electronic%20Tour%20Permit.pdf This is an electronic version that our council lets us e-mail in. Maybe you can try this. I would say get as much of the information reference the vehicle information. Find out who in your council office handles these. Make sure you print you copy and carry it with you. I have always been told that it is better to get a tour permit and not need it, then to not have one, have something happen, and find out you needed one. As for all the other boys that are attending with parents, I would just make sure that there is no doubt that they are allowed to go. Which when a parent is going with you that should not be a problem. Make sure that you have the YP trained person available. I hope your trip goes well.

OK lets break this down as to the multiple parts. #1 - Boy wants to attend, but his parent cannot. As far as I know, the only rank that REQUIRES parent attendance is Tiger. And the way that I tell parents is, they MUST have a responsible Family Member who is 18 years of age or older. I had one parent who asked if her brother could take her son. I told her yes, but then I had to say no due to the fact that he was only 17. #2 Permission slip http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34-38.pdf I would also keep emergency contact information on hand and get the Class 1 & 2 med forms on file. Just in case you are too far away to have the parents arrive in a timely manner. YOu need to remember youth protection. If you are traveling and he rides with another driver other than his own parent, there must be at least the following. Two adults and the boy, or two boys and the adult. That example was explained in the YP online training. #3 Parents wanting to Carpool Gas is expensive, let them as long as YP guidelines are followed. not to mention that parking will probably be at a premium. Hope this helps

ScoutMomAng I can see where you are coming from. I was at a welcome back gathering with my daughters GS troop a few weeks ago. They were talking with one of the BS fathers that had recently returned from Philmont. Some of the girls had said that they wanted to do that. Well the discussion led to the differences about the cost due to Girl Scout no being BSA chartered. Then the topic of Venture Crews came up. And they looked my way. (They know I am a CS leader) So I guess that is the next 3 years (that is when my daughter turns 14) there will be a new Venture Crew in our district. I ws talking with some of the others and they said that one of the types of crews was a High Adventure crew. I think that would be good. Do things like locally hike the AT, canoe the local rivers, maybe some white water rafting. Here's looking to the future.

OK OK OK For those of us who have served. That seems a little funny, because when we have typically heard "Allah akabar", it was usually right before something bad happened. Maybe we can take this to a different direction. I thought that it was funny because I have always asked, "Why do we liberate 3rd world countries?" Doesn't bermuda need Liberation??? That is just my sense of humor after doing time in the desert mountains. IMHO, people need to lighten up, not everything is meant to be insulting.

OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH Snap I gotta go and stop the washig machine........... Sorry, but I had a laugh on your part. That was a little funny though.

Great Post I sat down with my son one evening after one of our den meetings. Actually they are just like Pack Meetings, just with different activities. And this was also right after we came back from a campout. I told him that his behavior was good that evening (he has some behavior issues, but he is getting better) and that I was proud of him that night. I also told him that we would try to spend more time together. I told him that I was sorry that i wasn't able to spend more time with him in scout meetings. But there were other boys that also needed my help. I also told him that although not fair to him, the boys tend to look to him for guidance, because he is the Cubmasters son. And that, that is actually a big responsibility. I guess I need to spend more time with him this year, working on his achievements and electives. As Cubmaster and den leader, I have a responsibility to the otehr boys just as much as I do to him. But I sit back reading this post, and think about my time with my son, and that I really need to work with him a little more. I guess that these are things that I need to look over again in my life as a Cubmaster. But that aside, I was looking at his uniform after our last pack meeting, looking at the patches that he earned and trying to figure out where they could all go (He just got the recruiters stripe, and it will have to go below his jr. Shooting Sports team Patch, and that is a big one). I told my wife, "look at all these patches. that and once he gets his wolf badge, he will have 1 Gold and 2 Silver arrow points to start. But we still have at least 8 Achievements to go with the WOlf Badge. Here's to scouting and all the leaders who give so much for other boys, but raise a coffee cup to our own.

Skipper Although introduced at an earlier rank, Webelos have a specific requirement for the square knot also.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions on the types of knots that would be good for a knot board. I am going to be working with the Wolves and Bears on making these boards. Plus it is going to give them something to display. And it will cover some electives. I was thinking about the following knots: Square KNot Overhand Bowline Taught-Line Hitch Then I was thinking about putting a small dowel on the bottom and allowing them to do the following hitches: Clove Larks head Anyone else have any suggestions on knots to do with the boys.

Thanks for the help jethro. THough I had tapped all the resources on the page. Along with the slides, I think we are going to try to make napkin holders also. I found some ideas in the How To book and recipes for the clay. Anyway thank to everyone who helped. and anyone that might help me with some crafts in the future.

Pappy, Sorry to see you go. I wish that the scouting program was more like it used to be. But it sounds like you have found a program that suits your needs. I hope the best for youu and your son, and that you get what you are looking for out of your tenure in Young Marines. Even for an Army Combat Medic like myself, it sounds like the young marines would be an interesting program. I just hope that you do no run into all the propaganda and legaland ethical issues that the BSA has. I personally look towards improving the Pack that I am in. Building a QUALITY program. I am setting goals of more campouts, more hikes, and maybe putting the OUTING back in Scouting. I look forward to joining the Boy scouts and when my son is the right age, being able to attend the high adventure camps, philmont, seabase, northern tier. Also making good use of our local seabase, pamlico seabase. I hope things work out for you and your son.

BW "Rather than work so hard to rationalize something that is not allowed why noty just do one of the activities that is allowed? Just offer an actual product or service that meets the BSA regulations." Because there are only so many people in our little rural county that can buy popcorn and other traditional fundraisers. I was trying to find something that would reach a different demographic of supporters that approached us to help out. By your definition the motorcycle ride 'event' is not an approved method or 'product.' This, by what you are telling me, would disqualify the event event even though they would have the entertainment and fellowship among riders. So whould we go out and start telling scout groups that they cannot have haunted hayrides, haunted houses, or corn mazes. No matter how much they bring in and depend on them. These are all things that provide entertainment, but no product.(This message has been edited by SctDad)

Liz I think I would look into the 2 van's if needed. If you have that aunt to help out that would be great. But remember No Convoys. (He he he) But that is another story.

BW The boys would be doing a cook out style lunch for the riders. There is going to be no boys riding on motorcycles so where does the insurance come in at. Just asking because I am trying to figure this whole thing out. But if not, maybe we can have them do the ride for the AL post youth summer camp program, or something like that. Or say that the Amer Leg is holding the ride for the scouts, as a send a cub to summer camp. Then we can also share some of the money with the legion How does that souund if the council denies it.

Jay Who are you with in the Guard. I may know you. I used to be in but I since hung up my ACU's for a little while.

Sounds like a nice collectors item, I look foward to getting some of them.

I would say that a nice scrapbook with stories, pictures, and such would be nice. Maybe include in it patches of events that he led. Also as a wall memory, maybe something like this scoutmaster plaque http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?cat=01RTL&ctgy=PRODUCTS&c2=GIFTS&C3=ROCKWELL&C4=&LV=3&item=17566&prodid=17566^8^01RTL& If the link does not work it is on Scoutstuff.org. Under gifts - Rockwell at the bottom. I think that would be something that he may appreciate. Also if he is an office worker, they have several office sets.

I don't know if you have had your first meeting or not but here are some ideas. If you look around there is a parents dedication that can be made into a ceremony. I am sure that you can also find a leaders dedication that may work. If you ahve had this meeting and had no success, try doing this at the B&G banquet. May make for time to get more leaders. I know what you are going through. I ran into this same problem last year when I saved an pack from being disbanded. If you need any other help feel free to PM me.

My only opinion on this is, they are prisoners of war. What do they do with the prisoners thay they captur, they kill them on internet broadcast. At least these prisoners in Gitmo are still alive. -These are my opinions and no one elses-