SSScout

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.

With a CoH scheduled every three months, this has never been a concern in my home Troop. The Scouts know who has done what, and the SMC and BoRs are usually done in the weeks before the CoH. The CoH in October is always a big deal with all the Summer Camp awards. Each of the others ends up with a particular flavor, but the Scouts have never complained about being "recognized" at them for their awards, even if they are three weeks after the BoR.

Is this a new unit? Rebuilding? As in any new management change, you should help "set the tone". Traditions can be started. A Scout CoH needs to be functional (present the new ranks/badges/ tie ribbons on the flag, etc. ) and ceremonial but not to the poiint of being stultified. Some candle lighting, some reciitation of the Scout Promise and Law. A reminder of what Scouts is all about. Some inspirational stuff, Scoutmaster's minute sort of thing. Punch and cookies (if not ribs and cole slaw) after. It would not be out of place for the new SM to meet with his PLC (even if it's only two) and talk to them about your desire to "make a small fuss" over things. It is appropriate. Go on line, peruse the choices (there are many , many scripts), find one that suits your situation and sensitivities and instruct your PLC in its elements. Make sure they understand YOUR expectations. For the first few times, this is OK, then , when they get the hang of it, certainly make it "boy done". They will see the purpose and reasons for it. CoH s are for the Scouts, the parents and "community". Include the ASMs and Troop Committee in your plans. Make sure you invite your CO leaders: the pastor, club president, whomever. Include them in the celebration, which is what it is, yes? I got the impression that you thought things could be improved. Go ahead and improve them. You have my permission.

No,No, No....... Pancake DINNERS. with locally raised SAUSAGE and real MAPLE SYRUP , not the erzatz kind, and cream chicken ala king on WAFFLES, like the volunteer fire department of my youth, ah, them were the days.....

Many possibilities here::: 1) Maybe the Kiwanis Club has a member that could "host" a Scout shed in their back yard. Approach them about buying and setting up. Home Depot is very Scout friendly and will negotiate a discount purchase. Other Shed people might also. 2) Trailer: Most of the pro/cons and concerns are discussed above. If not in the back of the Kiwanis parking lot (make sure trailer has lots of locks on it and has lots of painted verbiage on the outside)., maybe a member can "host" it in his driveway/back yard. 3) I like the storage company ideas, if they are local/close enough. We used this for CSDC some years back to good effect. The company was about one mile from the site and they gave us a very good deal. 4) I frankly like the shed idea over the trailer. It all depends on how you can arrange it.

delete delete.

Check around for an old timer that can do the "Campfire Ash Tradition" talk. Don't forget the mom who will ask "what's this baggie of dirt doing on my kitchen counter".

Check around for an old timer that can do the "Campfire Ash Tradition" talk. Don't forget the mom who will ask "what's this baggie of dirt doing on my kitchen counter".

1) When I opened this thread for the first time today, it hesitated, and I finally noticed that the page count was "1 of 1". Then it changed to "2 of 2" then "3 of 3" then "4 of 4" . The old system would immediately note the total page count . 2) Note the notation at the head of this page: What is a "STICKY TOPIC"?? I thought we ate the last of the "pie". 3) Is there still an archive of the old magazine? Or do we google that?

Still no "Faith and Chaplaincy" thread/forum.

?? No more News Headlines??

Pack has 32 very active Cubs, all ranks, and families involved to, and a CM that is willing and eager to "get dirty". Everyone gets a PWD patch at the next usual Pack Meeting. 1st, 2nd, 3rd fastest for each Den. 1st, 2nd, 3rd overall fastest for the Pack. An ad hoc award committee peruses the entries in the "Race Impondment Lot" and makes up awards on the spot , this years included:: Most Patriotic, Best Use of Money(!Coins for weight), Most CARtoonish, Mythical Relations, Best Black, Best Red, Most Realistic, Best use of Legos,.. In our "Unlimited" class (adults, older brothers, ex-CubScouts, etc. ) one dad had molded a block of lead and sheathed it in wood. Looked like his son's car, weighed 7 lbs. We ruled it too dangerous to run on the Cub track.

"Mrs.Smith? Billy? Glad you could meet with us. Here, have a seat. Perhaps you know Jack Jones? He's our Charter Rep for the Upper Mudflat Church, and I think you know Fred Fergy our Scoutmaster and Jocylin Jockeson our Committee Chair. "Good to see you, Billy, Billy? Oh yes you did, you attended Sticky Swamp Camp with the Troop. Did the First Class Trail with the Roadkill Patrol, right? yeah, I was there that year. Haha, yeah, that was fun...you earned your Lifeguard last year, didn't you? "Well, Mrs. Smith , We have accepted your reluctance to register Billy as a Scout these last three years, but we really wanted to help Billy get the most out his Scout time so as he passed his Scout rank requirements, you realize we were "carrying" him all these years. "Umm? Oh sure, we kept paper copies of all his records, but since you refused to register Billy as a Scout, they were never sent in to the Council office, so the only folks that know about this are you and us here. "No, he was never a Scout anywhere except here at Upper Mudflat. That's the way you wanted it, so that's the way we held it. It did puzzle alot of us Scout people, but, the boys enjoyed Billy and he was an asset to his Patrol. "Now, you've come to us and asked if Billy can be presented with the Eagle rank. We have talked together and come to the conclusion that, yes, he has fulfilled all the requirements. Almost. Theoretically. "Well, I say that because one of the requirements is to "be a Scout". And , frankly, Billy has never BEEN a Scout. Oh, he played at being a Scout, but since he was never... "No, that isn't true. We spoke about that many times, last month, in fact. We've spoken with the leadership at Council and National and they are all in agreement that since he has never been officially registered... "We understand that, but you see, that was YOUR decision and you must admit we never pressed you for a reason, did we? "Now, please hear us out. We want to be fair to Billy, and recognize his efforts and success. Council office has said that with the records we have, we can back date his membership and validate Billy's ranks and MeritBadges and his project. With the backdated, recreated records, we can go forward with the application for his Eagle. "That's right, I said application. The National office approves all Eagle Scout applications. No, it certainly is not up to us. It may seem that way to you, but this is the only way it will work. "So , here's what has to happen: You fillout this application and put in this date. Yes, that's three years ago, that's when you first started attending the Troop, we are estimating. And a check for $240 so that..... Yes, that's what I said. That's three years dues. Well, he didn't sell popcorn or participate in the wreath sales, did he? No, we never require anyboy to unless they want to. He did? I'm sorry to hear that. We have no record of any sales by him. He didn't have a Scout account. "I see. " No, there is no other way to clear things up. Us local folks do not award the Eagle rank , National does, and they won't do that without Billy being an Oh-Fish-All Scout. Billy, maybe you and your mom need to talk about this. " Any other questions? Well, I guess that's about it. Billy, will you be on the overnight on the 12th? Ok, I understand. When you and your mom figure things out, we look forward to talking to you again. "Good luck , Billy. Thank you Mrs. Smith. Goodnight." "

1) The system is much slower in responding to requests for action. Sometimes seems the "button" won't work. I only khow to wait by the little roundandround at the top of the screen. 2) Put page advance button at the BOTTOM of the page. If I have read thru a thread page, why the need to go all the way back to the top of the page to see the next? And sometimes, the next button didn't work until I erased and inserted a page number Mildly frustrating. 3) I agree with much of the above critique/ suggestions. The quotating function would be nice once perfected. The punctuation and Smiley face thing needs work. 4) When seeking the newest things, I find I prefer the old way of listing the threads affected rather than the new way of listing the whole message. It is page consuming and unnecessary. There is a "more" button at the bottom of the page, but why even need that transition? 5) Very pretty, but then too, I found the old system attractive and businesslike. This is somewhat an example of the present trend to "make things fun" I participated in a survey for the hardware store and found the question of "how much fun" shopping for building supplies was rather strange. Pleasent, satisfying, possibly but why fun? 6) Haven't tried to PM anyone yet... Does that work better than the old system, which was not reliable.

Pack had B&G last week. Feted the Web2's (among others) and gave them Troop Tshirts for the Troop they are entering. AoL and Crossover (OA done)is next month. Troop gives BSHandbook, new necker, loops and hat. Presentations are a personal thing. When I was CM, I made placques for the Web2s. Cookie cut from 8" cherry trunk, woodburning tool, old broken arrow end "driven" and glued into placque. Name, date, Pack #, Webelos AoL patch glued onto placque. Looked good. Professionally done is good, but you do pay for others efforts. It is the thought that counts.

Oh, yeah, you pay to volunteer. You get (maybe) a couple of patches, mebbe a couple of Tshirts, you get a cot and a tent and 3 meals aday and trails to walk and lotssa new friends and stuff to put in a box to keep in the top shelf of your closet for your grandkids to find when they clean out the house. You get memories of kids and adults to help and laugh with and help cry with and some special entertainment (wish I'd seen Mike Rowe) and new countryside to drive thru and games to try and problems to solve and socks to rinse out. You might receive a coin passed to you by the Head Scouter in passing and lotssa flags and hassles and unintended slights to forgive and smiles to pass on and handshakes to enjoy and new raincoats to test and .....