SSScout

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.

I like Pappa's approach. In my previous life (preretirement) one of my duties was investigating and reporting on traffic accidents. Even got to report on an antique trolley car accident. In our view, we observed there were two kinds of accidents : Good and Bad. In a good accident, there were no injuries, very little damage, our driver was not at fault and the other driver learned a lesson (we hope). In a bad accident, there were injuries, significant damage, and our driver was clearly at fault (or "contributed significantly to the cause"). When it became apparent that the trainers were stressing Schedule Adherence above all else, the PTB soon decided that the drivers had to have a new paradym to adhere to. When cautious, courteous driving became the standard, accidents and complaints went down. Are roller coasters safe? Exciting? Over engineered? (we hope). We have four (!) high rope courses within 50 miles of our house. These are the walk and swing playgrounds wire cabled 20 or more feet in the air thru the trees. Safety (there's that word again) harnesses, climbing clips, oversight and watchful eyes are the rule everywhere. They welcome "kids" ages 8 thru 80. At our county fair, the Scout activity is a rope bridge, 5 feet up at the ends, draping to 2 or 3 feet in the middle. We strive to have boy "lifeguards" accompany each crosser and yes there have been "slips" but no injuries (that I know of). The youngest has been 3 to cross the bridge, the oldest , at least 82. Oh, did I say "is"? I meant "was". The fair canceled the rope bridge for (to me) unknown reasons.

In one of my favorite Monty Python sketches, we see two airline pilots in the cockpit, bored to tears, and playing "I spy with my little eye...". One of them then gets an inspiration. He gets on the intercom and announces to the passengers: "There is absolutely no cause for alarm". That's all. This is , of course, perfectly true at the time, but what a context! To say an activity is "safe", can be true , but how about that context? People once thought installing asbestos in boilers was safe. Then. Not now, with more complete knowledge. I like Le V's thought. It is something that ALL activity directors need to consider, you can minimize risk of injury, but make things absolutely safe? Hard to do that.

Oh, come on... We all know that presidents do this kinda thing. It ain't news except that some techie (who is now out of a job) left the mike gain up. Didn't we have a prez once that had a "secret " way to end 'his' unpopular war?

It is a sad reflection on todays parent that they often miss out on the only time they will have to affect the growth of their child. Ten years from now, they will wonder why they have no affect on their child's behavior. What is it the Bible tells us? Bring up the child in the right way and when he is older, he will know how to go? What you are experiencing is what I call the "soccer syndrome": drop the kid off and come back in 2 hours. It is far too often that the parent doesn't think they CAN know how to "parent" . Tiger Cub gives that opportunity. You must insist and enforce the need for the parent to attend and stay with their child for the meeting. Hand the parent a pair of scissors the second they enter the door, ((don't let them drop the boy off at the curb)), and tell them to cut this out for you... Give them a definite assignment, WITH THE BOY, immediately. Tell the boys that their parent(s) are invited to be part of the Den. Make sure that the boys know, and help them to place the guilt trip on the parent. They have to make the choice: Which is more important, Their BOY or - ?- ?? The boy will only be 7 (or 8, or 9....) ONCE. Thank you for your service. Noli illegitimi non carborundum.

Bagerra the Panther

Is it too late to have a camp bugler? Taps at day's end is always welcome. Reveille , mmmm ok. Weather Rock... Staff should be ready with parkas, raincoats, anchor ropes, sunglasses as required for the day, as the WR predicts. DONOT do the announcement song. Do NOT. I like the Sports score thing. Cricket score from Kenya, Nauru, etc.

It is always "possible". Whether it is "probable" or "realistic" is another issue. That, neither the SPL nor the Sm can predict.But hey, no harm in the encouragement. Now , about the term "guy".... I always have a problem with that and counsel my Scouts and IOLS folks about the preferred labeling of our young charges as "Scouts" , "boys", by name. I hear EVERYONE called by the epithet "guy". I like to think our Scouts are something more than that.

I like all the comments given. Set the example... remind gently... Don't let the boys forget that "a Scout is Friendly" oops, I mean, "the Cub helps the Pack Go..., the Cub gives good will". Don't forget to notice Good Behavior... Mom:: ""Care to guess what the parents are?"" ? Blonde? Alone? Absent ? Tall ? Acne covered ? Wheel chair bound ? Oh, I give up.... What are they?