SSScout

Gotta point out that back in the ooooold days, the Scout "Oath" was also referred to as the "Scout Promise". Many faiths do not allow the making of "oaths", but what we as Scouts pledge to do isn't really a "judicial oath" (swearing BY something) but a personal promise, and that is ok. ""On my honor...."" Making sure the Scout understands what he is expected to promise to be and do is not so bad. No surprises. Now, we have to exhibit that behavior for them to emulate. Can the adults live up to the Scout Promise?

Arrive in either Dulles Int Airport or Baltimore Thurgood Marshall, avoid Reagan National. Rent a car to either downtown DC or Baltimore. The Metro to Dulles will not be complete, but there is Metrobus service, and lots of taxicab service. Look up the Skyland Inn or Big Meadows in the Shenandoah National Park, 60 miles west of DC. Cool, good hiking, history, nice and relaxing. http://www.nationalparkreservations.com/shenandoah.php?gclid=CIa9heCUsK8CFQTd4AodmiolHg fills up quick. Lots of history in the area. Car down Skyline Drive to Smoky Mountains. Go east to Williamsburg and the Chesapeake Bay. Many nice B&Bs around the bay. Don't forget the Blue Crabs, our Maryland delicacy. Annapolis Maryland has the oldest continuosly in use State House in the nation. Pretty town, Annapolis. Boats, seafood, bicycle friendly. Have fun with the internet research. TTFN

Finally got hold of my Scouts Canada friend in Toronto. He says his (Canadian company) Joe Fresh Scout Shirt is labeled "Bangladesh". This is the new foreign aid.

Flag pole: an old closet pole of suitable length. Topper: Carved tree branch knee. Flag stand: 1948 Chevy truck brake drum, welded pipe (donated welding), green paint from leftover gallon from cellar door project. Still in use, lo these many years.

I have a Georgia White Pine in my yard that is more than 5 feet around and at least 120' tall. Redtail Hawk family makes a nest in it every year. Grow tall, my young friend. Welcomr to the forums.

Is it possible that some Scout units never go to the trouble of seeking public notice , then bemoan the lack of membership? Is there a connection here?

When you get your new flag (sounds like a new Troop?) , have a little cermony with /in/ for your CO. Make the boys aware of the history they are beginning. Take the halyard strip of the flag and have the new SM and IH sign it, perhaps. Date it, in indelible ink (does India ink mean the same nowaday?) . Our Troop recently replaced the old flag. It was the "original" , made with a wool/cotton blend, I think. We had a small ceremony at a CoH to mark the renewal, the flag was more than 50 years old at that point. We had a few old timers present and were able to make that connection to the past history of the Troop.

I think the "hearing challenged" subcamp idea may have merit. If it is not too late to plan for such, you might contact Irving (National Council) and ask for the Jamboree Director's office. I know the Disability Awareness area was very popular at the 2005 NJ, at which I staffed. I visited that area more than once and had some good conversations there, talking about growing up with a dad who had lost his left arm before he met my mom . Among other things, I learned how to tie my shoes one handed. I think they might be concerned about numbers (small?), but I know that deaf kids do like to hang out with folks that are easily conversant in ASL or Signed English. I dated a young lady who was a counselor at Gallaudet, and gained some insight thereby. Then too, such "segregation" might not be welcome, but it is an idea to discuss, if it is important to you. There were at least Troops, if not whole subcamps, that were "specialized" in various ways. Why not an ASL Troop?

Okay, what exactly is the difference between a Slogan, and a Motto? We are supposed to 'Be Prepared' ("why, for any little thing") and 'Do a Good Turn Daily'. How do we instill in our boys (and girls?) the idea of service to others , without thought of recompense? Are we losing that dynamic, along with the outdoor imperative? Maybe that is our biggest problem, not the poor quality of the uniform, or the unhealthy example of some of our leaders, or the sometime unprofessional professional. It could be a game, I remember, back in the day. We even had a competition once, turn us loose and come back with a report of what our GD had been. One, specific, GD. Hold a door open. Carry some groceries in. Hung up laundry without being asked. Put some fallen stuff back up on the shelf in a store. Picked up trash on the street. Dad stops the car and we got out and put the trash cans back that had blown out into the street. Helped a turtle across the street. Heard lots of GD stories. I think the ideal, which was often learned later, was to make it anonymous. At least, try to. It's the anonymity that is often lost. Not acknowledging the GD could be the same thing, anonymity. We all knew who had provided the money to let the Scout go to summer camp, but we were savvy enough not to let on. We all knew. His name need not be voiced. His act was appreciated. That was sufficient. One acts when something is seen as needed. "Why doesn't somebody DO something"? Lots of people feel "it's not my job." Maybe. Maybe not. If one is ASKED to do a specific act, that is not a GD. If it is a 'chore' or 'in my job description' , probably not. If one is paid, or awarded or given recognition, that is not a GD. At least, not if the pay or award is expected. Sometimes the GD is recognized as such , and reward is made, but sometime later. The inherent act does not define the GD. A GD can be small (hold open the door) or large (provide a college scholarship). They don't even have to be of service to a human. Beyond being somehow beneficial, anonymity is a large part of a GD.

blw2: Good to hear from you. The "Good Turn" knot went the way of all uniform things: one of two reasons (or both). Either the PTB decide the uni needs "updating" (ESL : teeny neckers under the collar, cuffs on shirtsleeves. Centen: lighter weight, silk screen flag & "BSA" strip, ipod pocket on sleeve, no buttons on pockets) OR,, us participants just decide the thing isn't worth doing (blue jeans, no neckers, no hat, let the boys wear the shirt not tucked in, ) I remember being taught the Good Turn knot. Our neckers back then were long enough to do that with little problem. Not so now with the cravat necker. The overhand knot was tied with one end around the other. Done right, it helped the necker lie right. The idea was (originally) that once the Scout had done his Daily GD, he would untie his knot. That was back (waaaaay back) when the uni might actually be worn thru the day, not just on special times. So to the spun thread...

Aye, thee is right, and he is a Quaker, if a fallen away Friend... I understand his mate makes a good cup of coffee,,,

Slider? There's an American for you... Woggle to old timers or Brit Scouts. Look at "Woggle World" http://cubclub.tripod.com/ for some inspiration. And http://www.pinetreeweb.com/neckerchief.htm(This message has been edited by SSScout)

"almost "? Tis the same thing. And our Canadian Scout brothers/sisters have the same complaint, their uni is not made in Canada. More to come.

I think the closest MB counselor is in Nantucket MA.

""What I do remember was that it took many calls to get to someone that was involved with the decision. I never found out who made the final decision.My guess was the Chief Scout Executive cerainly had to approve it."" So, the address for Mr. Mazucca is...? My Canadian connection tells me that the ScoutsCanada uniform supplier is, indeed, a Canadian company,Joe Fresh, but not necessarily fully manufactured on the North American continent. http://www.scouts.ca/uniform/uniform.html Most seem to like the new unis but with the one complaint: how to apply all the usual badges and where to put them? Not my problem.

Wear the necker. Encourage it. Talk about it's history, it's uses, it's symbology. It is the ONLY item common to all Scouts in every part of the world. Scouts that cannot afford a shirt will wear the necker. Their ranks will be attached to it. It originally was the same size for all Scouts, and Cubs. You grew into it. The shirt collar was bigger, too, on older shirts. You wore it over the collar, or neatened up the collar and wore the necker pulled snug around it, old Canadian Scouts still do this.Or the shirt came without a collar, to better wear the necker. It was (and can be) a very handy thing to have. Much like my dad's insistance that a "gentleman always has a clean handkerchief", a Scout always had his neckerchief. Necker use (from an old book I have): Signal flag, lashing for extending poles, nose covering for dust or smoke, wet it down and cool your neck, head cap, ID groups (arm flash), bandage, tourniquet, sail for boating (!), extend reach for rescue, sweat band, head bandage, eye patch, tie two together for swim suit (!), arm sling, sprained ankle brace, blindfold for games, disguise/costume for skits, flag for "capture the flag", mark boundary, ID Patrol area, Troop area, wind sock, kite material, mitten, hot pad for cooking, dust seal around neck, warm neck, award presentation (!), trading item, repair for torn pack frame(!), "etc."

Wear the necker. Encourage it. Talk about it's history, it's uses, it's symbology. It is the ONLY item common to all Scouts in every part of the world. Scouts that cannot afford a shirt will wear the necker. Their ranks will be attached to it. It originally was the same size for all Scouts, and Cubs. You grew into it. The shirt collar was bigger, too, on older shirts. You wore it over the collar, or neatened up the collar and wore the necker pulled snug around it, old Canadian Scouts still do this.Or the shirt came without a collar, to better wear the necker. It was (and can be) a very handy thing to have. Much like my dad's insistance that a "gentleman always has a clean handkerchief", a Scout always had his neckerchief. Necker use (from an old book I have): Signal flag, lashing for extending poles, nose covering for dust or smoke, wet it down and cool your neck, head cap, ID groups (arm flash), bandage, tourniquet, sail for boating (!), extend reach for rescue, sweat band, head bandage, eye patch, tie two together for swim suit (!), arm sling, sprained ankle brace, blindfold for games, disguise/costume for skits, flag for "capture the flag", mark boundary, ID Patrol area, Troop area, wind sock, kite material, mitten, hot pad for cooking, dust seal around neck, warm neck, award presentation (!), trading item, repair for torn pack frame(!), "etc."

Not THE Pierre Esprit Radisson? I grew up on his TV series! Haw-haw-haw!

For one of my WBtickets, I wanted some souvenir patches. Called an embroidery business recommended by a Scout friend, offices here in MD, about 15 miles from home. Phone call, Email conversation ensued. Design pdf file to them, price quoted, agreed to. Fedex package dropped on my front porch three days later, Fedex "Singapore". Three days from email agreement.

""what I'm trying it find is what is right according to the US government."" Oh, don't get us started on THAT...

To "dip" the flag, tipping the pole, indicates some respect to another flag or entity. The term "drape" to me means placing the flag OVER something (like a casket?). When our smallish Cubs do flags, we ask them to "drape" the flag over their arm so as to not drag it on the floor. "Urban legend" indeed. But I would counsel holding the US flag as vertical as possible always, unless you have to go thru a short doorway, or the wind requires some physical handling. During the ceremonial speaking (PoA, SBB, etc.), the US flag would be kept vertical and other (state, county, etc. ) flags dipped slightly, in respect. As I look at your picture, I might suggest that if you do "dip" the flag slightly for visual effect, make sure all the other flags are dipped distinctly MORE. By tradition and expectation, the US flag should always be the highest (disregarding the situation at the UN, for instance) of all flags present. Google "flag etiquette" and take your pick... During a 9-11 commemorative, I had a LARGE State Trooper/ex-Marine both thank me for our Scouts' flag ceremony and chastise us because "that wasn't the way we did it". His complaint was that while we had the US flag LEAD the procession into the hall and onto the stage, the procession leaving had the US flag be the LAST off the stage, and THEN lead the procession out of the hall. He favored the US flag FIRST at all times. I had another man say that the US flag should've been the LAST out of the hall. Can't please every one.(This message has been edited by SSScout)

...spun thread. MEDIA ATTENTION>>>> Do you seek out the local media/blog/newspaper/tv/radio to espouse the Scout activities of your Scouts? Or why not? Day Camp? Philmont trips? Service projects? Both future, to come, ongoing, completed? Fund raising? Eagle CoHs? Bike hikes? Cub fish derbies? Parade floats? Signs out front of your CO? Uniform to school? JSNs? JSDs? County Fair display? What?

That's just the point. Who knows about your Scout thing, and how did they find out? I guess we need a.....

Five Eagle Scouts, five neat projects: http://www.heraldstaronline.com/page/content.detail/id/571903/One-troop--five-Eagle-Scouts.html

It is a Woody Allen movie, I think, "Sleeper" is the one, yes? Safe at all costs. No risks. Health without pleasure. Life without adventure.