SSScout

Just finished watching "Fiddler on the Roof" with Topol. "TRADITION! Tradition!" So goes the world. OA has the pocket flap patch and (what happened to the "pocket rocket" arrow dangle?) and the sash. And I have an OA necker from my youth. Other Scouts have the MB sash. Nice to wear your awards when you can, but the MB sash hung over the belt is kinda awkward, I think.

Since we are no longer a "make do or do it yourself to avoid needing to buy something" society, BL hasn't had many How To articles of late. I have noticed a slight change in that, however, as frinstance in this month (March) which has 6 (7?) pages on household repairs (plugged toilet, toilet flush valve, furnace filter, faucet washer,) and this is a Good Thing. I do notice more How To articles about MB stuff and camp tips. Mebbe we have had an effect. As to Cubs, there is still BALLOO'S Bugle on line and (?) is the Program Tips still published? DLs can certainly use BL for their activities, as appropriate. Use the last month as a guide, and have the boys read and do. We only get the Boy BL at our house, not the Cub BL. I could not tell you what the difference is in the two issues, only that there is a differrence, you receive the one or the other , depending on your registration. AND... if you are looking for a place for the old issues, assuming you don't want to keep them yourself, bundle them up and pass them to your local public or school library. AND... your unit might consider giving that library a gift subscriptiion! Good, inexpensive PR!

Krampus: You will find NOTHING offishul about wearing the OA sash or the MB sash anywhere other than over the right shoulder. Tucked into/over the belt is a "local option" (there's that term again)/ tradition/convenience. It does seem appropriate sometimes (sort of like the Totin'Chip being pocket flap shaped, I guess). I say wear it right or don't wear it. Roll it up in your winter coat pocket, put it on for the ceremony, roll it up again for the wide game after the meeting. >>>Make Sure the Scout's Name is Marked on the Sash, on the Inside/Underside. <<<<<

“How I Spent my Summer Vacation at Guy Camp†We had driven a long way to be there. I was a member, a leader actually, of a special group. On our arrival, we looked forward to a great time: hikes, boating, archery, campfires, leaky tents, swimming, bacon and egg breakfasts, songs, skits and lumpy cots. That’s right …. We were at… “Guy Campâ€!!! What? You never heard of “Guy Campâ€? Well neither had I until recently. I thought I was accompanying my Webelos Scouts to “Scout Campâ€. All the applications and literature read “Scout Campâ€. The sign over the gate read “Scout Campâ€. But after we arrived, almost everyone we met told us we were “GUYS†. Must be “Guy Campâ€! “How are you guys this morning?†“Listen up, guys…†“Alright, red guys to the left, green guys to the right…†“Guys, you have to swim two lengths…†“…but there MIGHT be flies on the guys at table six…†I soon detected a subtle pattern And I remembered other occasions: The waitress at the white linen napkin restaurant: “How are you guys tonite?†The tweenage girls in my neighborhood address each other as “guyâ€. Jay Leno addresses his audience: “…and when you guys leave tonite…†Everyone on MTV (yeah, I watch that sometimes) is a “guy†(male or female). I remember Sesame Street: “HEY YOU GUYS!!!!!!†Listen, is it just me, or is there anyone else out there who sees something wrong with this picture? Or just a part of it? As a Cubmaster, I found there two main challenges to leading a Cub Pack. One: Parents that don’t have time for their son and his activities. Two: the general culture at the boys’ school that would have them believe that being a Cub Scout is wimpy, uncool, less than “da bombâ€. How to fight these trends? The first is worthy of another article. The second concerns me here. Language is often neglected as a way to reinforce behavior or belief. Especially naming or titling . Isn’t the name by which one is called important? (A Boy Named Sue, How Do You Do…) Think back to your Psych 101: if a child is called stupid often enough, might he not begin to believe it? Here we are, teaching boys life saving skills, esteem boosting skills, ego enhancing knowledge, values to last the rest of their lives and do we not want them to be proud of being Scouts? How do we, as Scouters, reinforce the boy’s pride in being a Scout? Should we remind them the path they have chosen to follow is a challenge worthy of their time? That Scouting is something that makes them “special†(but not necessarily “better†than their friends)? Can we give our boys reason to believe US rather than THEM? But back to camp…. As I went thru the camp with my boys, I found myself thinking of other Scout activities: Camporees, Pinewood Derbies, Round Tables, Tiger Hunts, Day Camps, Committee Meetings. I remembered and realized how rarely our young charges were referred to, even among adults, as “CUBSâ€, or “SCOUTS†or “BOYS†. They were “kids’ or “guysâ€. Not “campersâ€, not “Webelosâ€. Always “guys†or “kidsâ€. What’s going on here? An extreme example, if you please. When Hitler took power, it was of course with the connivance and agreement of a lot of the German people. He early on realized that to ensure his success he must enlist the youth of his nation. So he immediately suppressed the Scouting movement and instituted his own youth movement. Scouting had been voluntary and it’s values anathema to the Nazi cause. “Die Hitler Junge†would be neither. The name was all important, “Hitler Youth†was how they were named and addressed. After the war, it was very hard to erase those memories and values from the now much older “Jungeâ€. They had been told over and over whose “youth†they had been and why they should be proud of it. Is it possible we are unconsciously renaming our organization? Can a boy be proud of being a SCOUT when 9 times out of 10 he is told he is a GUY? Umm, let’s see now, ah yes! Here we are…. “guy (gi) n. (old French gui = guide ) 1. A guide, one who leads. 2. A rope, chain, wire or rod used to steady a larger construction or object. 2a. v.t. to steady with a guy. 3. n (obs) an effigy of Guy Fawkes, paraded or burned on Guy Fawkes Day. 4.n (obs) a person of grotesque appearance or dress. 5.n (obs) an object of ridicule. 6. n (slang) a male person. “ Mmmmm…. At our District Day Camp this past summer, I spoke to a Scouter about our use of this misnomer. He agreed with me, saw my point, these boys need to be called “Cub Scoutsâ€. Yes indeed. Ten minutes later, at the top of his lungs, he greeted 250 Cub Campers “ How are all you guys this morning?†Well, everybody recognized their name and screamed back “FINE!!†It’s not easy to change easy habits. But back to camp… I met a personable young man, a Star Scout, who led one of our hikes. I took a liking to him and when we had a quiet moment, I spoke to him of my concern. He listened and admitted that it was totally a reflex with him. Yep, he shore did call all them youngsters “guysâ€. Shouldn’t. Didn’t mean to. Yep, he’d try to do better. They deserved to be called “Cubs†or “Scoutsâ€. I watched thru the next hour as he tried to adjust. He had a hard time, but he caught the “g†word before it came out just about every time. He smiled at me and I smiled back. He became sensitive to it now and was trying. He became better at using those neglected terms “Scouts†and “Cubsâ€. Emboldened by this success, I spoke to an adult Scouter, a man of no mean skill in his activity, and who obviously enjoyed the respect and affection of his young charges. He first protested that these boys were not Scouts, they were not old enough! He could not call them Scouts. He said they were “guys†back in his neighborhood, why not “guys†here? I asked, “how about “Cubs?†Well, they might be Cubs. I said, “of course they’re Cubs. CUB SCOUTS!†Certainly they were “Scoutsâ€. But that was only part of my point. He, too, was unconsciously taking the easy way, the (to him) usual way. How was he encouraging the pride of being different, of being “specialâ€, of being a Scout? He said he’d have to think about that. Changing one’s behavior requires three things: First, a recognition and acknowledgement that the change is necessary and possible and GOOD. Second, a desire to make that change. And third, a conscious effort to do so. Okay, so is this a problem that would benefit from a change in behavior? Would a change in the way we speak TO and ABOUT our boys make a difference? Can we make that change? Do we want to? Our boys can be KIDS and GUYS somewhere else. Here, at Camp, at the Round Table at the Tiger Hunt…. Here, let them be SCOUTS…. Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venture Scouts, Senior Scouts Sea Scouts, ALL SCOUTS! What is your job title? Cub Master or Guy Master? District Guy Executive? Den Leader? Guy Leader? Think about it. When my name is mispronounced, I gently and politely correct the speaker . I learned early the importance of a person’s name and the respect it should be given. The name. The title. The titles we accept for ourselves (teacher, cook, policeman, pastor, friend…) are not small, unimportant things. Use the title. When my father called me “son†or “Jimâ€, I knew he loved me and respected me, no matter the occasion or my age. When he called me other things, well, I knew what to expect then, too! What do our Scouts expect? If we feel the Scout program is worthy and valuable to our boys, if we believe our time is well spent in teaching the skills and values of Scouting, then as “AKELAâ€, as “THE SCOUTERâ€, we must use the right name for our boys. They must know we believe they are…. Repeat after me: “GOOD MORNING CAMPERS!†“HOW ARE ALL YOU CUBS TODAY?†“OKAY! ALL YOU RED SCOUTS TO THE RIGHT, GREEN SCOUTS TO THE LEFT!†“LISTEN UP, WEBELOS!†“FOLLOW ME BOYS!†I hereby give the staff in every Scout Camp, from Director to C.I.T., permission to refer to and name us “campersâ€, “Scoutsâ€, “Cubsâ€, even “men†(both young and not-so-young). I don’t want to be a guy. I don’t want my son to be a guy. I want my son to be a Scout.

Coach tells his (her?) athletic team to "be proud" and "be a team". What do we tell our Scouts? Boy, Cub, Venturer, Girl, Brownie, What do we tell our Scouts? Is it possible that our Scouts pick up our own "embarrassment" of being Scouts? School Spirit Day, teams wear their uniforms to school. Not Scouts on Scout Day? What is the difference? Do kids make fun of the football team as "jocks" or not because of fear of physical harm? I'm not saying our Scouts should use threats to gain respect, but what is it they fear in being exposed as Scouts? "Secret Scout Society" indeed. Wimpy? Uncool? Hiking the AT and Philmont is wimpy?

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Is there a difference between "respect" and "tolerance"? http://www.tolerance.org/

Thank you for the link. Never would have found it on purpose. Perhaps there is hope for the BSA after all.

Yea forsooth and verily, tis down for repairs, tis, seem and mayhap for the better, methinks. Canst say nay, or yea. "recent topics", "24 hours recent posts" and other functions are missing or oerlong to profound their task and presentments. I am ill rewarded for mine efforts. Dissapointed, aye, that I am.

"The work is done by whoever shows up" Thank you for "showing up" and "doing the work" The folks that don't have missed out on the satisfaction and "extra pay".

Been there done that. If the parents pay the dues, he's a Cub Scout. If the Den Leaders, Cub Master, Committee Chair, etc. present the fun program, the Cub can benefit from it, IF he attends and progresses. But it is a choice, not a do or die requirement, is it? I had a boy in my Cub Den, he would come or not, he might be at the B&G or not. The parents were obviously not as enthusiastic as the Cub. Part of the dues went to the Dens in our Pack for supplies. I had a leather craft one time, the Cub wasn't there. I figured, they paid for it, they should have it, so I went and knocked on their door and the Cub answered the door. I said "hey, Bill, missed you at the last meeting. I thought you ought to have the leather kit." At that point, the dad came to the door, took the kit, said "thank you" and closed the door. Never saw the kid again. Did I take it personally? No, I know I did my job. Was I dissapointed? Sure. One can only " do your best".

Coats/jackets are something every parent has to consider for their young Cub. It will be outgrown. Generic , nice coats can be handed down to siblings, "inherited" from older brothers, sold, given to thrift shop, BOUGHT at thrift shop. It is nice to THINK about matching blue Cub jackets (look on Scoutstuff, many Cub jackets available) but unless you have a really "into it" group of parents with bucks to spend, I'm not sure your gonna get much enthusiasm behind the idea. Will the boy wear it to school? Maybe. More Boy Scout caps, tshirts and sweaters to school than full unis. I still have my high school letter jacket (like I could fit into it!) hanging in the back of the hall closet, and lots of Scout patches in the shoe box. No Cub Coat. Any such thing would have been passed on to another Cub mom real quick by my mom. Average Cub will go thru 3 shirts between Tiger and Webelos, and not because they wore out! And they are bought big! Here's an idea: Make sure they have matching caps (forget the rank caps) .

My home Pack always has at least three (sometimes more, depending on who is interested) classes: Cub (boy builds car), Non-Cub Kid (siblings, cousins, etc.), and Unlimited (adult ). This year, we only had one Unlimited-adult entry. He had encased a block of lead in wood veneer. Nicely shaped and painted, it looked like a PWD car! However, it weighed in at 6 lbs, 13 oz. (!!!!). The Committee decided it was too dangerous to "race" on the track, and gave it a "special " award.

Look at the "Eagle Clock" thread. I tried to comment, but received error message. I tried again, same thing. Again,and the message dissappeared,, , same error message, and so I tried to post HERE, got the same error message HERE, all with the "working" block at the top of the page. Came back today, all four attempts in the Eagle Clock thread were posted! Hoo Hah! and click POST...

There is always the difference in philosophy as to a pre-meeting "gathering" game , or a after meeting "wrap-up" game. Some Troops in this area do the one, some the other. Weather permitting, I have seen "capture the flag" type games outside pre meeting. Inside, depending on the meeting place, scavenger hunts and "Kim's" game. My home troop does a wrap up game called "Gah-gah-gah", which involves surrounding a large floor area with folding tables laid on their side, as walls. The players stand inside the table area, and roll a bouncy ball at each other. If one is hit below the knee (the ball must stay on the floor), they must get out of the play area. The name comes from the start of the play: the ball is set bouncing and it bounces three times (Gah, gah, gah) and the first person to grab the ball after the last "gah" begins by rolling to hit someone. The play resumes with someone (doesn't matter who) picks up the ball and sets it bouncing again. Note, not dribbling, just bouncing. VCery active game, the boys adjust the rules as necessary and rule on who "really" got hit or not. Last boy not hit is the winner.

Won't post new reply. "working" notice for more than a minute, then "Browser error in retaining info" or such. Multiple times. Most frustrating. Let's see if this will post.

Like all Scout awards, they are what they are. You earned them, you can wear them. Or not. Some Scouters wear the barebones uni, (with council patch, PoR, unit number) some wear the whole Schmiel. I judge by what I will be attending. Camporee, IOLS, maybe the shirt, pants Commish necker. CoH, pick out a necker (Commish, Troop, WB, beads). Eagle CoH, District award dinner, maybe everything. Whittlin Chip class with Cubs, maybe no necker. It depends. WB is a gradation. First, the Troop 1 necker. When everything is done, the Dove necker and beads. Den meeting, I would think it's a little much (but you are proud of your acccomplishment, yes?) to wear everything, but then, it is a conversation starter. Shows the Cubs even the adults are "Loyal Scouts" (We Be). "Wear thy sword as long as thy canst". (Quaker quote). Or.... Wear thy necker whenever thy feels like it....

Like all Scouot awards, they are what they are. You earned them, you can wear them. Or not. Some Scouters wear the barebones uni, (with council patch, PoR, unit number) some wear the whole Schmiel. I judge by what I will be attending. Camporee, IOLS, maybe the shirt, pants Commish necker. CoH, pick out a necker (Commish, Troop, WB, beads). Eagle CoH, District award dinner, maybe everything. Whittlin Chip class with Cubs, maybe no necker. It depends. WB is a gradation. First, the Troop 1 necker. When everything is done, the Dove necker and beads. Den meeting, I would think it's a little much (but you are proud of your acccomplishment, yes?) to wear everything, but then, it is a conversation starter. Shows the Cubs even the adults are "Loyal Scouts" (We Be). "Wear thy sword as long as thy canst". (Quaker quote). Or.... Wear thy necker whenever thy feels like it....

(fourth attempt: First three attempts to post failed: Last attempt was erased. "working", Then "Error while saving content: Internal Server Error") Interesting quest. I Googled "Eagle Scout Clock" and got oodles of designs. Wood, ceramic, plastic, wrought iron, crystal, steel, black, blue, white, silver, mantel, desk, wall hang, sundial (!). I wish you luck in finding the one, special clock appropriate to your son's attainment. Congrats to you and your Scout! Good Scouting to you!

(2nd attempt) (3rd attempt: "Error while saving content: Internal Server Error") Interesting quest. I "googled" " Eagle Scout Clock " and got alot of different designs. Wood, crystal, silver, wrought iron, plastic, ceramic, custom personalized, desk, mantel, wall hang, cheap, thoughtful, Sundial (!), and stories about "Scouts against the clock to earn their Eagle." I hope you find the one, special clock, appropriate to your son's attainment. Congrats to you and your Scout.

(2nd attempt) Interesting quest. I "googled" " Eagle Scout Clock " and got alot of different designs. Wood, crystal, silver, wrought iron, plastic, ceramic, custom personalized, desk, mantel, wall hang, cheap, thoughtful, Sundial (!), and stories about "Scouts against the clock to earn their Eagle." I hope you find the one, special clock, appropriate to your son's attainment. Congrats to you and your Scout.

Interesting quest. I "googled" " Eagle Scout Clock " and got alot of different designs. Wood, crystal, silver, wrought iron, ceramic, custom personalized, desk, mantel, wall hang, cheap, thoughtful, Sundial (!), and stories about "Scouts against the clock to earn their Eagle." I hope you find the one, speacial clock, appropriate to your son's attainment. Congrats to you and your Scout.

1) Still very slow. 2) !! Where is the function to "spin off a new (related) thread)". 3) No "Scouting in the news" item (from last version). 4) I like the connected comments function ala facebook, but How To Spin Off A Related Thread?? 5) Classifieds might be a nice touch for commercial stuff. Keep things seperate. 6) Still favor a Faith and Chaplaincy Forum. I believe the amount of discussion of religion / faith/ Scout's Own etc . gives proof of the legitimacy of this. 7) In the last version, we saw the page x of y counter, but it included the ability to go to the page we wished to see first ( the numbers were listed serially). This was on the "last 24 hours" list. The recounting of the whole first message is time wasting and unnecessary. List the "latest message listed" forum list, and let us avoid needing to scroll over the whole list to the "more" button. 8) The button I push for a particular action, may or may not react (change color, retract, etc.), and I may or may not get the little roundandround thingy in the upper left of my windows window. Might be nice for consistancy to see one or the other, or both together. 9) The new system is certainly colorful. And spread out. Last version was more compact. Didn't know any different then, just commenting. If THIS was the "old " system, and THAT was the "new" sysytem, would I like THAT one better? Duknow....

My informants tell me that Irving is discussing the definition of the "Unit Key Three", to go along with the District and Council K3's. Any thoughts?

"Baggie syndrome" That is SO Cub Scouts. Sample script, off the top of my head: Lights are dimmed. MC for the evening says: "welcome to the Troop 123 Court of Honor. Please stand for the presentation of the colors. (Color Guard does its thing) . MC: "Thank you . Please be seated. We Scouts recite a promise every meeting, but do we think about what we are saying?" Voice in back of room reads loudly "On my honor, I will do my best..." another Scout lights a red candle on the table (on which are arrayed all thw patches and stuff to be awarded) at the front of the room. A third Scout on the other side of the room reads: "It's important and I will do it..." (this back and forth continues thru the Scout Promise). Three red candles are now lit. Again, the first Scout intones: "A Scout is Trustworthy" the first of twelve white candles are lit, the second Scout reads:" If I say it, you can believe it. No Question." And so thru the Scout Law, interpreted in modern language. The SM should say nothing thru this. MC: "Okay, we are now ready to award alot of bling earned over the last month or so. Mr. SM? Will you come up and help?" and so the Camp badges are awarded, the MBs, and the ranks. Each Scout is named, comes forward, his hand is shook. Maybe all the Citizenship MBs together, like that. A small fuss over the accomplishments. No baggies. Parents come up and help accept the rank badges as the boy pins the mom pin on mom. Special things like Totin' Chip etc. RIbbons to tie to the Troop flag. Special awards? Wood Badge? Thank yous to adults? In Feb, we have a neckerchief slide making contest with prizes (Dunkin Donut coupons, Baskin Robbins, Cal Tortilla) SM Minute. MC: "Please stand for the Retiring of the Colors" Cookies and Soda. Put stuff away and go home.