SSScout

Well, yes, the times they are a changed. I was the Stage Crew Manager in HS, Jr. & Sr year. If there was something about the electric or mechanical systems in the school stage or AV closet, I was often called out of class to help deal withit. As a matter of course, I carried with me, or at least in my locker, a double ended flat/phillips screwdriver, a needle nose pliers, a larger Visegrip, a Diag cutter, a large lockback knife, and a roll of tartape. Not today. No student could get away with that today.

Wisht I'd had a UC when I was a CM. Mighta saved the Pack. We did have a DE whose name and number I knew. He answered my questions, and that is all. Mebbe I didn't ask the right questions. It is not being Too Bold. It is being Proactive. 'Course now, diplomacy is important too, and letting the CC think it was her idea to reorganize the Committee is a Good Thing. Might inquire about the CC's family, there might be dynamics impinging on her ability to do the best for the Pack. You seem to be knowledgeable about the Pack's society, social structure. Are there others who you might prod into helping with this? Helping with ecruiting is very definitely a Good Thing. Thank you for your Work with our Youth. Good Scouting to you!

SF: When and by whom a course (WB,IOLS, OWLS, First aid, matters not)is taught is dependant on two dictums, which I have found true in any setting: "The work is done by whoever shows up" and "Not everyone should be a teacher" even tho everyone should learn. Your 20-80 rule is a good observation , but again, not everyone can or should be a teacher. I know good, dedicated Scouters that don't know which end of an axe to hold. I know knowledgeable folks that I would trust with my life but can't easily communicate their knowledge. Watch them, work with them, absorb decades of experience. but , God lov'em, they could never sit folks down and do it in an organized way. Doesn't mean one shouldn't urge folks to get involved and "do your best" at something new. Follow the passion. It is, however, a Good Thing when folks recognize their own limitations. It is not a Good Thing when others do not recognize someones skill and encourage them to pass it on to the next generation. Do the encouraging.

"HEY, WATCH THIS!!!"

*Neat, small, stick in the ground signs. "Your Lawn Could Look this good: Callllll::" Put'em in before, tak'em out when you leave. *Uniformed staff. Tee shirts, ball caps. *Leave a neat, raked up job. No grass clippings on sidewalks. *If your truck leaves ruts, fix them without being asked. *The customer is always right, even when they aren't. You can always charge THAT one more the next time. *Be prompt, on time for appointments. *Use the local "penny papers". Craigs List. *Participate in local festivals, street fairs, etc. *If advice is asked, give it freely. *" Price list:Finger pointing, free. If we cut your lawn, $xx per hour. If you watch us cut your lawn, $2xx dollars per hour. If you help us cut your lawn, $3xx per hour." *Be attentive to local recycling/EPA/etc. regulations. Make sure your customers KNOW you are being so attentive. *Leave your business card EVERYWHERE, with EVERYONE. You can never tell when your name will come up at just the right moment. "Do Your Best"

1) The boy did not have to wear his uniform to the meeting. Once upon a time, Scouts were expected (and were proud to ) to wear the uniform to "important" events. Even to school (shudder). I love the story of the Cub Scout who was told he was going to attend his cousin's wedding and he should put on his best clothes. He puts on his Cub Scout Uniform. The fact that he had on his Scout uniform has no bearing on this episode. If reported faithfully, he did not present himself as someone "officially" representing the BSA or his Troop. The fact that he asked to speak and the council welcomed his comments is one of the keys here. 2) As a citizen ( so I presume) of the town, I would think it is the boy's duty and right to make his opinion known to the folks that represent and decide on his behalf. I hope the council realizes that. If they viewed his comment as merely an annoyance, then we have more than one adult problem. I wish I could more often do as the boy did on some of todays issues. Publicly declaring a "stand" is often not the choice people make. Grousing to your friends in the coffee shop is usually first. Maybe a letter to the editor (now email?). "Why doesn't somebody do something?" Well, this boy chose to take his opportunity and do something. 3) How is this Scout being disrespectful? He is in his best clothes, speaking his mind. He did not curse, he did not single out any one councilman, he did speak directly to the issue and even give some of his background and reference for his remarks. He could've shown up in shiny shorts and a hoody. I would think , for a 12 year old, he did quite well. 4) Was a time when council meetings were the best entertainment in town. Folks made sure not to miss them. Now, it is a chore to attend them. Can't miss "Dancing with the Stars". This young Scout has a future in public works or (shudder) politics or any of many doin'-for-others activities. 5) The debate between incarcerate rather than educate is not new. But it is a hard choice, and needs more debate. For a 12 year old , however dressed , to see the necessity of improving the chances of training and educating, thereby making incarceration LESS necessary, is a good thing and should be encouraged. 6) Scouter Williams overreacted to a non-event. In his desire to make sure everybody loves Scouting (his Scouting? not the boy's?), he has made it impossible for the boy to see the benefit of his Scouting. William's Scouting has no courage, has no passion. It is that of the beauracrat and not of the boy. The encouragement of being "involved" is the message here. How to do this? By apologizing for wearing a uniform? 7) If an adult teacher or corrections officer had stood and spoke, whether in or out of "uniform", it is the message that needs hearing, not the dress of the speaker. Of course, it helps if the speaker is so dressed so as not to detract from the message being presented. I fail to see how the dres of this young man detracted from his message, that education is preferable to incarceration.

Saw this done once, left a thoughtful atmoshere. Put the words on magnets and let the participants WATCH as someone plays with the positioning of the words. WIN ALL YOU CAN CAN YOU ALL WIN CAN YOU WIN ALL ALL YOU CAN WIN YOU ALL CAN WIN

Yep, no one ever earned the first highest award: Silver Wolf.Things change, things stay the same. Usta be boy joined Scouts (the Boy part), then earned Tenderfoot, whenever you could. Knots, Scout lore, flag ettiquette, . During the next three months, or later, he could earn Second Class, which was about being comfortable hiking, for the most part. Plant/animal ID, Hike (?)3 miles, basic first aid, couple of knots, fire building, hygiene, that sort of thing. Another three months, or later, First Class could be earned. More hiking, but now more about REAL camping and skills. Map and compass, better first aid, Morse code or semiphore signaling, cooking over that fire you built in Second Class, camp construction, better knots and lashings, night sky astronomy (Polaris?), dadada. Now, after First Class, one was expected to be able to TEACH the skills you mastered. Lead a hike. Help plan a good meal. Be a reference for tent pitching and care. Might have more than two dozen camp outs under your pack. Couple of summer camps. First Class, ready for Philmont, Mt. Katahdin, Northern Tier. First class: NOW you can earn those neat Merit Badges you've been reading about. Aviation. Rowboating. Canoeing. Even Basket Weaving.Hey, some are easy. Reading? Drama? Music? I do that stuff at school, almost automatic. Auto Mechanics? Carpentry? I take care of that helping around my home. I can get an award for this stuff? Great! It's kinda fun being Patrol QuarterMaster.Troop bugler, Music AND Bugling Merit Badge. Six months or longer , and Star is a possibility. Patrol Leader? OA? Found out about that and waited for my turn. ASPL? SPL? Naturally. Another 6 months or so, Life Scout. Service to others? Our Troop does the church's lawnmowing. We get out to clear trail at the camp. Helping to usher, bus table and park cars at the church's suppers. Lotsa help with dad's Lions Club, and more stuff at school. Service required? Heck, it's fun doing this stuff. (No Eagle project per se required. Only "serve your community"). Eagle? More Merit Badges. Is it worth the effort? What effort? The Position just sort of happens. It's my turn to be JASM. Mom and pop are there for me. The other Troop families are there. Me and the buds are taking care of business. Court of Honor? We read the script, but it seems to mean something now. Not just words to repeat. Even the younger Scouts seem to be more important now, not just ... irritating. It's neat when the Tenderfoot can actually send and receive wigwag. Oh, wait, he's a Second Class now. Cool. Another six months and.... Paper work. Another Board of Review. ANOTHER Board of Review. And Eagle . Seems so long ago.....

Well that was an education. I could find nothing definitive about numbers in the National trove. Only descriptions about what each type of person needed is (Committee Chair, Scoutmaster, Scout, etc.). I found several Council sites that mention "5 youth members" as a minimum number for (re)chartering a unit, hence for FOUNDING a new unit. Here are some pages to consider: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/28-402.pdf http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/media/relationships/thenew-unitprocess.aspx But no easy answer or rebuttal about how many youth members are required to start a new unit. I suppose it depends how hungry the local DE is for membership and unit numbers. (!) Good luck.

This gives the onsite leader a fall back reason, in counseling Sammy Cub that he should not be using the rock hammer, while Dad Sam is asking why his little tool user is not being allowed to use the impact drill? Uses it all the time at home... It's kinda like me telling my daughter that she could always use me as a reason to back out of an uncomfortable situation: "my daddy wouldn't let me" might sound better to her friends than "I won't do it 'cause it's dumb and dangerous"."

And an hour or more on the bus each way, how many hours away from home? When to eat breakfast? Dinner? With or without family? *Less stressed parents? How bout MORE stressed teachers? a ten hour day 5 day week? Divying that up would be a nightmare, maybe not impossible, but wow. * We micromanage a 6.5 hour school day (8 hour for teacher) into 7 class periods and .5 lunch . The students can and do walk between classes (4 minutes, 5 minutes, 6 minutes, depends on the school). And at 7th period many of them are wiped out, ready to nap and/or veg out by the tv. Many acadamicians believe the better way is to LENGTHEN classes and SHORTEN the class period (ie. instead of 4 months of a 40 minute class, make it 3 months of a 50 minute class, and stagger them thru the semester. *The private school I sub for does 6 periods , .5 lunch, in 8am to 3pm. Smaller classes, longer times, subjects rotated thru the semster. Not the same rotation every day, frinstance Science twice a week, spanish twice a week, music/drama twice a week. *And why not make the year one of equally spaced Trimesters, and let the parents choose which two per year to attend? Let teachers bid for which two to teach. Equalize things. Or , if the student is up to it, take the trimesters straight thru, shorten high school by a full year. Graduate at 16. *And hey, add 15 more students to each class, make school much more efficient. Fewer teachers needed. Nothing wrong with 45 students in a class. Band and Orchestra does it, why not history or algebra. The problems (all of them) stem from this , which any teacher can attest to: about 1/ 3 of the students above 6th grade would learn if dropped on a desert island with sufficient books/internet connection, 1/3 want to learn and can with a little help and guidance, 1/6 needs to be constantly reminded of the benefit of education and the remainder will (as a phys Ed teacher once told me) "never get it". The scheduling adjustments mean nothing if (1) the teachers are not dedicated and properly rewarded (2) the students are not encouraged and disciplned by loving and attentive parents and (3) the schools and are not properly equipped and maintained. See #2 above.

"A Cub Scout follows Akela, A Cub Scout helps the Pack GO, The Pack helps the Cub Scout GROW, The Cub Scout gives Good Will". It is little known, but thru an editing error, the last part of the Promise was left out: "...the Parents help the Pack go, too." So the CM, thru his/her example, sets the pace/standard. Encourage your Dens to be active, to individually do things: go to the Zoo, visit the Fire House, hike the Nature Center...etc.Each Den should be the Cub's "Gang", they should WANT to hang out with and "can't wait" to go with. Encourage the Cub Den to be the "BETTER ALTERNATIVE" to video games (?Havoc? ?Lethal Weapon?GrandTheft Auto?) or The Simpsons. When they come together in the PM, celebrate their advancements,lead cheers, sing songs. Arrange for some big things that a Den couldn't easily do: State Parks "Scales and Tails", fireman gives a dress out demo, cook something in the church kitchen, divy the Dens up for a relay race of some sort, invite TV weatherman to come out & do show and tell. If it sounds fun, DO IT. Ask your Cub Scout for ideas.Find out what the Pack parents do , and enlist them to SHOW OFF! One of ours was a Transit Bus person, he brought a WHOLE BUS to the meeting once. Any contractors? Do you have any idea how cool a TRACTOR up close can be? Camp outs and Saturday hikes are great, and need to be on your schedule, but not to the elimination of the PM. Put the aannouncements in a short handout and DON"T BORE THE CUBS WITH THEM. Above all, as CM, you are the RingMaster. Go ahead and MAKE THEIR DAY! KiSMiF YiS

The Scout"leader" you describe is a classic bully. He is out to make sure those "younger" than he remain subservient ,not equal, in stature. He has other issues. The need to laugh at others misfortune is a characteristic that does not indicate maturity. I would expect some problems at school, also. A sit down with him, with his parents, and perhaps with the PLC may be in order. I favor the Scout Promise and Law approach mentioned above. The fact that they are Scouts means they "are better than this". Sometimes Scouts need to be reminded of this. I was sub teaching a class when an office aide came in and handed me a note for one of my class. I asked for "Sarah Smith" and three hands shot up. (Let's play with the sub!) One immediately took her hand down and giggled. The other two indignantly argued that THEY were Sarah Smith. The seating chart indicated which was which, and I passed the note to Ms Smith . the other girl I took out in the hall and we discussed the idea of lying and telling the truth. She had a hard time letting go of the idea that she could "just be kidding" and not have consequences. The fact that I took her seriously in this, to her, minor thing seemed to make an impression on her. Make the impression on this (and the others ) Scout.

This is a volunteer organization. Everybody "signs themselves in" to the asylum. And signs themself out. Your son will continue serving others (I daresay it won't matter if it be Scouts or some other entity), no matter what.At least until something really drastic happens. "The work is done by whoever shows up" I'd say "where do you have to be, son?" and then get him there.

That's pretty much it. Unit keeps a copy, District/Council get a copy. Commissioners, if they are on the ball can keep track of them. Toward the end of the year (new charter) , Unit pulls out the old JtE form and calculates how they did ("Scout's Honor") How'd they do? Check with Commish or DE for appropriate award. Fill out next years form. Rinse and repeat.

"".... though a little heavier than purists would like. "" Purists? A "purist " wouldn't have a tent. He /She would have a tarp or (shudder) a hammock. Suggest your more adventurous Scouts try this: Get a 10 by 20 plastic tarp. Lay it on the ground and peg down the 10' end, and about 4 or 5 feet further on, depending on where the grommets are, Fold up the tarp about3 or 4 feet, hold that up with poles cut on site, again depending on where the grommets are ( you did bring rope with you , yes? Tautline hitch use, bowline use). Lay out the remaining 5 or 6 feet over the bottom as a roof, hold it up with poles cut on site and pegs cut on site (using the T/C skills, right?). Presto, Tarp Leanto. All you need. Shelters one Scout and gear, use a larger tarp for two boys. Easy to carry, versitle, adaptable, don't need a seperate ground cloth, inexpensive, easy to find replacement parts. Waddaya think?

Aye, welcome to the forums, laddie. Ye'll find lots to do an' confab an' comisserate aboot here. As to the wearin' o' the tartan, look ye to http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/ an' http://www.scottish-tartans-world-register.com/find_tartan.aspx among others.Aye, many others. Who's the "authority" ye ask? Well should ye, too. When ye find out cum an' tell the rest 'a us.

In the mean time, seriously, I do hope that Willamor finds the REAL solution to his quandary Good Scouting to you, Wil.

That's Floyd , Boyd, and Mergatroyd Lloyd, of East Bygum Kentucky. They have a product, so they say, that INSURES EV'Rthang comes down right. Also paint remover and white wall cleaner. Good boys, check'em out....

OO!! OOO!!! I got a good one, a good one.... I fully trust the old Scouter who told us about this, "a Scout is trustworthy" A past Jamboree was in the last planning stages, and the Executive Committee was meeting. They came to this item on the agenda: Approve design for Staff Hats. The fellow in charge presented his report, handed out a sample hat to each of the 12 or so board members. Each was "monogrammed" with the boardmember's name. Prices were discussed, design was approved. The Chairman (call him John Jones) hands his cap back to the "hat Person", saying, "this is good. Make 5,000." Two weeks later, one month before the event, the hats arrive. 5,000 hats with "John Jones" embroidered on the back. And so that is why every staff hat at that Jamboree has a broad rainbow embroidered on the back of the hat.

"" Today it is because they are made overseas. Tomorrow it is because the price is too high."" No, it is because the uniforms are made overseas of POOR QUALITY and poor design. They fall apart after a dozen washings. The flags and name strips fall off. The requirement to buy and wear the item remains the same. AND The price remains the same, therefore the difference in price/quality means extra profit, which is why so much of American industry has moved "off shore". The All American motorcycle, Harley Davidson, has many overseas parts. check your auto. Even American built cars will include a Mexican Rebuilt transmission (not new!). If the Big Companies could do it, they would outsource the plumber who came to repair my leaky pipe. The company who rebuilt the radio dispatch system for my transit bus system (all GPS/CAD/LANcapable/ )was from Israel. What a commute! They stayed for 7 months until it finally worked "as advertised". There's NO NONE in the USA capable of this? Us Dispatch Operators (all very computer literate) could only shake our heads. The buses would have been built in Mexico or Canada except for a requirement by the FedDOT that they be built "substantially" in the US of A. So they came from "assembly" plants in Buffalo and Albequerque. Perhaps it is a sign of our new globalization. I am all in favor of our Bangladeshi neighbors earning a fair living. But at what cost to us? If the Kindle you read in bed was proven to have been manufactured by folks that have FAR less than the pay ($75?hour? I'll move there!) and healthy work conditions we enjoy here (guaranteed by a free press and the right to organize!), would you have bought it? If the shirt you wear was shown to have been made by folks that are locked in at night and not allowed to leave the factory compound except by permission of the bosses, would you have bought it? Having an American made uniform is important for many reasons, not the least of which is that as the Boy Scouts of AMERICA, founded under a Congressional charte (hello, kudu), I think we owe it to those fellow Americans that could use our business. I think it was Neil Armstrong who said that as he was sitting on top of the Saturn V waiting to travel to the Moon, he was struck by the fact that he was going in a space ship built by the lowest bidder. But it was an American bidder.

Lloyd's of London http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E03E3D6153DE33BBC4E51DFB767838D629EDE Oops, I mean http://www.lloyds.com/ They insure anything, For a price. Even Boy Scouts. On Buses.

I do not know where you are, but here is/are the hierarchy of possibilities as they occur to me: * It's a Scout activity. Ask the charter company drivers to donate back their pay for the day. Make sure they have first crack at the Dutch oven Brownies and Brunswick stew. * Have you approached the local school district? Chartering school buses will likely be cheaper than over the road coaches. * If it has to be over real state roads, use real buses. If not, consider hay wagons and tractors. Contact local farmers, grange, 4H, County Extension Agent. We have a local "custom farmer" (he does many fields in the area, renting them for cropping) that loves to do Good Turns like this. * Local Transit services might also be amenable to this. Our county has a transit bus service that is famous for helping worthy causes. * Might be some churches in the area with sunday school buses that could be asked to help. Ask around. We have one nearby Baptist church that has no fewer than 12 buses in it's lot, but I have never approached them about this kind of thing. Doesn't mean I wouldn't. * Surveying Merit Badge: Draw a scale map of the route! Have fun, and drive safely!(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Scoutfish: Thank you for your service to our youth. 1) As a former union member and rep to management (tho not in the textile industry) I take great exception as to your assertion that ANY textile worker in the US might be paid $75./hr. Or be allowed "28 breaks" during the workday. Those numbers are just so fantastic as to lead one to wonder what you might do for a living yourself. 2) If not for union organizing and legal representation, we might still have such industry scandals as the Triangle Shirt Factory fire, or more coal mine disasters than we have now. No "breaker boys". The "free market" does not necessarily equate to the best conditions or fair pay for work. Not every employer has the best interests of its empoloyees at heart. If "profit" is the only motivation, then the term "slave" can appear without bidding. Henry Ford easily came to the conclusion that his workers should be able to afford the cars they were making. That attitude staved off the union movement in the auto industry for some time, but not for ever. Are our uniforms made in "sweat/slave" shops? I don't know, but I do know that there is no accepted , legal representation in China to protect the workers pay or work conditions. I would rather see "made in America" on the inside neck of my shirt.

Seattle, that was lovely. That's exactly what CS should be about. And it is what is lacking in so many CS programs: a personal connection. Here, you have the parents DOING with their boy. They are learning by example. Later, they can learn by EDGE (shiver). Unless the parents toss them as being "dirty " or "not nice" somehow, those handmade neckers will be kept for a loooong time. You have made memories, and that is a good distance into what Scouting should be about.