SSScout

"" You can find brass neckerchief slides on eBay with the Statue of Liberty and the same tagline, Strengthen the Arm of Liberty. The were available with the Cub and BS logos. "" I have one in my collection, given to me by a (much) older friend.

In my short time at the County Fair, I was able to teach the 4H "Prince", a teen ager, how to tie a SUCCESSFUL bow knot for his shoes.... Curse you, Count Vel....

I visited a local park, my purpose to re-connect with the leadership there. I had once , some years ago, been a trail guide there, but ... another time.... SO, I came into the office and asked for the person I had read was the Educational Program Manager. The young man behind the counter told me that person no longer worked there, would I like to speak with the "NEW" Educational Program Director? Absolutely, I replied. He called him on the radio , and came back to me and said, are you a Scout Leader? Well < I thought , I hadn't mentioned that, but I replied , Yes, I am, that is par

We had a Scout Table at the County Fair this year. It was in partnership with the local college science center, in the "KIDS ZONE". This is because (as often happens) no one else in the Scout county thought to work to have a Scout presence at the fair, other than the Troop that was assisting (to good effect) the car parking.... Maybe next year... Still, we were there, and accosted many kids about Cub Scouting (we had a PWD track and,,, ) KNOT TYING. Demo'd some chain knots, a multi overhand knot trick and taught them some simple knots (overhand, figure eight, square and BOW , for

"It depends" Some years ago, a fellow Commisher and I helped a local church (of un-named faith) start a Scout Troop. It was unabashedly a part of their "Sunday School". It lasted exactly three years and then decomposed.... The unofficial evidence was the religious leaders were too heavy handed in their goal of "conversion"....

Dats wat ham tawkin about....

"The work is done by whoever shows up. Therefore, SHOW UP" There is no reason at all why local Scout units can't c-operate and do stuff together. The safety regs need attention, but beyond that, go and make the phone call and knock on the doors. I am often reminded of the PLC I sat in on some years ago. They were newly elected, the SPL and the three PLs, and the SM (not me, I was in the back, a UC). The SM was suggesting activities, and finally, the SPL woke up and said: "you mean, I can make that decision??" SM said "DUUUH". and they had a good year ... Samething. Make th

Yep. Paid for the "privilege" of staffing the Jamboree. Three times. Bought the tent, the cot, the semi "ambient " temp showers, the pavilion I worked in, bought the meals, bought the necker, the nameplate, the tables and chairs. AND THEN,,,, we paid a fee for the pavilion space for our exhibit.... What would my "labor" have been worth? The Scouts I helped along the way? The other adults I met who needed a listening ear and some re-alignment of their "purpose" there... Scoutson did too. Now, if we had been at a resort, where everything was done FOR us, and the towels were r

"It was hot in Los Angeles I was working the day watch. The Scoutmaster was home sick, my Committee chair is making S'mores. My name is Thursday. I'm a Den Leader. " >>> The story you're about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the egotistical and stupid.<<< Please, go tie some knots.... Wow the Cubs ....

Friend Brannigan. From what I glean, reading thru the past (since May?), it would appear that your travails are over. I hope Mr. Monster does not reappear somewhere else. Since he was a Cub Leader, we might assume he had some Cub(s) in the Pack. We therefore also hope they/she/he are doing Cub stuff successfully to their benefit. It does happen, some times, that adults forget the lesson oft repeated by Bob The Tomato (Vegetales): "It's for the kids" All too often, it becomes "It's for ME", meaning the adult.... I am glad your Pack appears to have come thru healthier.

CSDC: Scout Skills pavilion. On the day we do "Ecology" , I've had a fellow from the county come out and talk about recycling, etc. Then, I put the Cubs at the corners of the Pavilion and tell them to walk out 100 big steps turn around and walk back to the Pavilion, and PICK UP EVERYTHING THAT GOD DIDN"T PUT THERE> We always collect a very respectable pile of trash, even in the County Park that is swept clean by "professionals".... Six periods, I send the Cubs out in different directions and they LOVE the challenge. And they go out the rest of the day charged up for putting the pla

Scoutmaster's Minute (or ASM's Minute?)::: What part of the Scout Promise and/or Law applies here? Are your actions in accordance with either? Or do you really agree with the ideals of Scouting? These ideals have been around for a loooong time, in one form or another, not just in Scouting. You want Bible verses? We can find 'em. You want Stuff from the Koran? we can find'em. Code of Hammurabi? Yep, they are there.... Golden Rule? Yep. Treat others as you would want to be treated. How is it FAIR that some Scouts do the work and others sit around smiling.... Ummmm?

This is what happens when the CEOs you hire have a Genral Motors mindset. The DE here, if not everywhere, is rated (judged?) on her/his performance. NUMBERS, we need numbers. If not new Scouts, then at least the APPEARANCE of possible new Scouts, which morphs into seeing efforts made, which means a piece of paper that indicates an effort (recruitment at a public place?) was made, at the behest (must not just be the Scouter, god forbid) of the DE. Lord knows, the good DE is way underpaid and (if they are true to their calling) over worked. I attended the RT once upon a time, met o

Yep, I remember that. Chaplain, "Relationships" pavilion. We had to deal/help with the accident/deaths/heat. We stood by the road, handing out water, and sprinkling the Scouts with a hose as they went by, and garnering complaints from folks who didn't want their CAMERAS to get wet.

What's that jazz number, it ain't the heat, it's the humidity? Birds come home to roost. BSA as we knew it is done. Thankfully. As has been said here and elsewhere, if the past BSA had only been honest and open about the problems, had only dealt with the problem makers instead of just slapping the wrists and letting them move on to other areas. If only.... BSA had confronted the bullies, the sexual offenders, the ones that didn't think the Scout Promise and Law applied to them and held them up to the Light , made them (unfortunately) visible. If only.... When was the las

I am registered as an ASM in my home Troop, which has a sister Troop under the same CO. I am also a ADC, and MBc.... Yeah, I might bleed Khaki.... On the occasions when I am able to attend a Troop meeting, It is not unusual for the CCh (a wonderful dedicated woman of no mean personal aura) to come up to any random parent (or me) and say "we have some Boards of Review happening tonight for Hermiani and for George.... Could you sit in?" It is HARD to say no to this woman. And thus, we have a very active parent group. Limiting the BoR personnel officially can be both a g

Yep. Been there, done some.... As a nerdy Scout, thick eyeglasses, skinny unathiletic frame, I was once "chosen" by another older Scout as someone to be his "stepping stone" to make himself be bigger. Looking back, I realize alot of this now, in an adult "official" (degree in psych, among other things) capacity. My dad prepared me earlier when it occurred in much earlier times. I guess, , maybe , it had happened to him, but he never said that much to me. So when "Jake" started pushing and shoving and saying some really stupid things, I could realize first off, since I had met his da

Some of us can remember when the Scout who wanted to "show off" brought a non-allowed Kbar from his Marine dad's kit. Now it may be the iphone the Troop says "keep it home for this campout". One of my favorite stories: Scoutmaster (not me) is meeting with his newly elected/minted Senior Patrol Leader and his Patrol Leaders. Toward the next year, SM is suggesting places to go, reminding them of stuff they did previous year, was there anything NEW they might like to try? etc. etc. Crickets. The kids look at each other, waiting for somebody ELSE to speak first. Finally, the nasc

Oh, the memories.... Our Troop was an "outdoors" Troop. An overnight each month, maybe not in the winter, but yes we did... Patrols met at a Scout's house. Made stuff. Collected money for the next trip. Played ball. Patrols did NOT meet at the Troop meeting, except for Patrol competitions or special training. You wanted a Merit Badge? you PHONED Council and asked for the MBC list for that MB. I remember Aviation had three councilors , all of them in Virginia (We were in Maryland). This one necessitated a couple of phone conversations with a "strange" adult, and at least one

Friend Fred: You think you'll get out of Scouting that easily, huh? Hey, maybe out of Scouting, but you'll find the Scouting won't get out of you so easily.... Bleed khaki? Scout cookies are a true addiction. As is Cub (overpriced) popcorn and Scout car washes and Scout BBQs when you drive past,,, and,,,, Those hiking boots will still be pretty comfortable..... See you on the trail. Even in "real life" : KiS MiF.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFwSzZQ4MVI

This is the key. It should never be "just good enough" I I think Yoda would make a good MBC....

Troop , camp, WB, IOLS bugler.... Bugling MBC. I have heard , okayed many a brass instrument. The embrouchure from trombone to bugle is easy. I did it. I am called to offer the BMB many times, sometimes some distance Away. I am no longer amazed at the attitude of some Scouts (or their parents?) about "doing" a MB. I once had two brothers arrive with two "cavalry" bugles (the small , one loop bugle) still in the plastic wrap. Had they even tried to make a noise with them? no. We played with these for an hour, I got them to make noise, explained and demonstrated with my horn. Thes