SSScout

Our Troop finances are divied up as follows: Troop account, Scout account. Treasurer keeps track of both, books are available anytime. Scout can use his account money for anything Scout related. Summer camp fees, yearly dues, Philmont, even a new pair of boots or uniform parts.(bring in the receipt). One Scout many years ago, saved up his Scout account and bought the Troop a new trailer. The Scout account is earned thru a simple calculation. The fundraiser is Holiday/Christmas wreaths. After expenses, the first ten items sold earns the Scout $5 each , the remainder goes to the Troop. Item eleven and up, the first $5 goes to the Troop, the remainder to the boy's account. Note: We do have "sidewalk sales", all of which go to the Troop. Troop funds pay for awards, camp deposits, neckers, Classbs, equipment, recharter. Events (hikes, campouts, etc.) are pay as you go). Dues: Adult fees of registered leaders are paid by the Troop. Scout dues are presently set at $100. a year, which includes the National registration, liability insurance (Council), Boys' Life, and the Troop expenses. Note: It turns out that the Council maintains a slush fund, that it uses to calculate a prorated dues/fee for each Scout thru the year. If the Scout joins after September, they still "officially" pay the $16. but it is divided and prorated for the coming months. Therefore, it turns out that each unit can have a "credit" with the Council, which can amount to a significant amount, but no one ever can tell you what it might be, or how it is applied. How to pay the $100.? Choices: 1) pay the whole $100. in September. 2) Pay $50. upfront in September, use the November fundraiser to pay another $50. or 3)opt out of the fundraiser and pay another $50., keeping in mind that campfees and such will have to be paid personally, when needed. "A Scout is Thrifty. A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property."

Step 1: Strainer or bandana strung between sticks, lined with triple layer of paper towels. Put bucket under the apex of the strainer. Step 2: Pour water slowly thru strainer, into pot/bucket. Do not overflow papertowels. Step 3: Boil water in pot/bucket, or add appropriate amount of iodine tabs. Follow directions for tabs. Let cool or add TANG to water. Yep, iodine precipes out. Let settle. Step 4: Decant water/drink into canteens or nalgenes. Throw away sludge. Step 5: Wring out paper towels, dispose of correctly (LNT). Wring out bandana, let dry in sun til bone dry (?back of pack?). Sun kills most bacteria. Don't know about viruses. Spores need to be killed by boiling bandana later. Do not drink from bandana. Wash hands. Step 6: Plan ahead.

Man made Black Hole. Good sub topic to work into a discussion about the National Debt. (Wikipedia) "A black hole is a region ...from which nothing, not even light, can escape." ... just sucks everything in, and lets nothing out...

Definitely harrassment possibility. But he does not have the "threat" of employment over the volunteers, as loathsome as his attention might be. Be assured that you are not the first ,nor will be the last to be affected by his "hobby". Have you had any contact with anyone else besides yourself and the CO you mention that has had the same sort of contact? In numbers there is strength. As has been suggested, keep a diary/journal of his contacts: Time, date, what is said. Therefore, three possible responses occur to me. 1) Personally tell him in no uncertain terms that his constant attention is unwarranted and unnecessary. The Scout business can be accomplished with much less contact. Remind him that you are keeping track of his contacts and it will be reported to his superiors. I would be surprised if this had the desired result. Might pique his interest the more, leading to: 2) Don't bother with the above warning. Contact the SE for your Council, and you and the other Scout Leaders affected speak with the SE about what you have experienced. If ONE comes up and makes such charges, maybe (the SE should , of course, take you seriously, but then..) they will be heard. If MORE than one Scout Leader comes up and relates the same troubles, they will mean more. Let the SE take the appropriate action. If nothing changes, you can do other things (go back to the SE, legal action in the courts, publicity in the media, etc.) 3) Next time he calls, arrange to meet him for coffee in a public place. Have all the affected Scout Leaders there, together WITH the SE, the DC, and perhaps your lawyer. Let him draw his own conclusions and make sure he understands your expectations. Be assured that if someone does not confront this ...idiot with his actions, and give him consequences, nothing will change, and you will lose more than one Scouter. And who loses in the final analysis? The boys. We're with you here, if only electronically. Keep us informed how things turn out.

Found a band named "I was a Cub Scout". Not bad. http://www.myspace.com/iwasacubscout

Forgive me, but the Fundraising forum did not connect. Error page appeared, three times. Here's what one Troop does for fun(ds)... http://www.gazette.net/article/20110819/NEWS/708249992&template=gazette

What was it the philosopher said? "Follow the money". Our CSDC a few years back was at a local county park. The county charged us a pittance, we were the Scouts. In essence, we took over the whole park. And it was (is) a BIG park. Lake, 5 picnic pavilions back in the woods, playing field, campfire area, playground (makes good castle battlements). We organized lots of specials and for free often. OA helped clean up and do projects for "thank you" . Always came in under budget, Council made some (dare I say it) profit. Then the county started raising the rent. And restricting our area. They had some summer camp programs of their own. Didn't bother us too much, we still had 200 plus Cubs and the State police helcopter come land (etc.). The last year we were there, the rent was (Scout's honor) the equal to Lockheed Martin renting the area for their empolee picnic. And we STILL came in under budget. True, the staff was expected to bring their own lunches (we had coffee and donuts for breakfast. See another thread on the uses of coffee boxes) and a "surcharge" was exacted for attending "our" camp rather than one of the others. People still came, such was our rep. I think that year, we had about 235 Cubs, including the ones that the Council office sent us on Monday, cold, check in hand, ten days after the "official" cut off date. (you ever go running around to every Dollar Store in a fifty mile radius to buy 20 more compasses?) And it came out in the black, but reeeeal close. The last year, we were told the rent would be 50% again more than the year before, AND the county authorities announced three weeks before camp they had "lost" our contract and we would have to start negotiations over. Our DE and CSDCD said no dice, pulled in some chits and presto, we were at an Izaac Walton League property (free!) . A bit further to drive, but we adapted. Now, with the same budget, we "hired" some specials, served picnic lunch to the staff, and stocked a camp store(which made more money, charging less than the Scout store for similar stuff). Budget left over! Council made money! CSDCD says she will hold a Thank You picnic for the staff, maybe two hundred bucks for all the burgers and franks and charcoal and such. BYOHS&F (bring your own horseshoes and frisbees). Council PD raises a FIT, can't do that, no one else does, ain't in the plans, not approved.... Senior DE says , "go ahead".... It's next saturday. Council STILL makes money. "Ninety percent I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste." - Phillies pitcher Tug McGraw, on his plans for his $75,000 salary, circa 1974.

"Reverence to God and reverence for one's neighbour and reverence for oneself as a servant of God, is the basis of every form of religion. The method of expression of reverence to God varies with every sect and denomination. What sect or denomination a boy belongs to depends, as a rule, on his parents' wishes. It is they who decide. It is our business to respect their wishes and to second their efforts to inculcate reverence, whatever form of religion the boy professes." =Robert Baden-Powell, Aids to Scoutmastership

Well, the confusion of the Cub ranks continues. Bobcat was (back in the paleolithic age of Scouting) a pre-requirement for any first rank. Wolf, Bear then Lion, then Webelos, and on to Boy Scouts. See the progression? Size and power of the animal. ("We'll Be Loyal Scouts. Wolf, Bear, Lion, Scout. We Be Lo S). Bobcat was a recognition that the boy (me) had learned the requisite "passwords" and ceremonials of the "gang". You wore the uniform, did the crafts, gained skill with handtools and went places with your buddies. The Bobcat garnered you a pin, not a badge. Still have mine in the box in my closet. The pin was worn on the pocket flap until you earned the rank badge. The badges on the uniform (sewed by my mom) were first the Wolf, Bear lower and to the right and Lion to the left of the Wolf, forming a diamond with a gap in between the Bear and Lion. The elective arrow points trailed below each rank. The Webelos W sat in the middle bottom of the diamond, had to take off the Wolf arrow points to sew it on. When the PTB decided to ENLARGE and ADJUST the ranks, the Lion was eliminated, the Webelos was made two years (Web1 & 2? Jr. and Senior Web? WebI WebII?). Okay, make the Cubs that much closer to being a "real" Scout. Then first grade Cubs became Tigers (? why not Beavers? or Lynx? Or Muskrat? Why a BIGGER animal?), the confusion began. Now, the "King of Beasts" is the first rank? Then Tiger? The ranks are neat titles, but have lost their prior obvious hierachy. Even back in my day, we Cubs recognized the progression. So a nascent Cub first earns Bobcat, then LION? Where's the logic in that? And "The Jungle Book" actually was tied in with the Cub program. Wolf, Bear, Lion, Akela, Bagheera, Should've had a Panther rank ... It is a rare Cub Pack and Cubmaster today that uses the imagery and symbolism inherent in Mr. Kipling's classic. It would be hard to do, now, being that Shere Kahn is a bad guy. Any DenLeaders out there read "The Jungle Book" to their charges? Mine did. I live on the edge of creeping suburbia, even teach Farm Mechanics Merit Badge on occassion. BBR, (back before retirement) early in the morn when I got off to work (3:30am),I occasionally heard a strange howl, and finally decided, after some consultation with others, that I had heard a Bobcat in the woods north of our house. Goes along with the Great Horn Owl we have heard down in the park to our south. I like the idea of starting Cubs in Kgarten, we can do good then, too. But I wish TPTB had been a little more creative and reflective in their rank creation, instead of merely resurrecting a name from the past. Enough reminiscing. So use Bobcat as the intro to the program. Reward the boys success at memorizing and becoming "one of us". But PLEASE do not cheapen it with the upsidedown stunt. This borders on hazing and is dangerous, and only encourages the boys to try their own "joining" stunts later. Be effusive in your praise and congratulatory stuff. They deserve it. Let them be proud of being Cub Scouts. KiSMiF YiS

I say it depends. I say the usual Troop wouldn't accept a donation from a XXX adult porn shop. Walk thru the last couple Jamborees, you'll see Council Camp gateways with various sponsors either obliquely acknowledged or out and out emblazoned. I remember an Iowa gateway with LOTS of green and yellow tractors and combines on it , and another with cheese pizza slices cleverly holding up the council name, ""When in Capital City, visit 'Somebody's Pizzaria' Main Street"". I have seen a Troop bus "courtesy Smith's Insurance Agency" and certainly have seen Scout fund raising dinner and show programs with ads "From Samson's Greek Restaurant" and "Jones Lawn and Garden Service". True, policy requires that Scout units not solicit donations, that they should "earn their way" by providing "worth for the money". If that worth is gourmet popcorn, and the purchaser agrees to pay the posted price for the alloted amount of popcorn, so be it. If the Troop and the purchaser of the trailer agree to putting the trailer purchaser's name on it, there's the worth: advertising and public goodwill. Front of Tshirt: "Troop XYZ IS ON THE MOVE!" (picture of boots kicking up dust) Back of Tshirt: "YOU'RE FOLLOWING A SCOUT FROM TROOP XYZ "(smaller letters: "helped along by Jenkins plumbing, Inc.")

I am suddenly reminded of "Brewater's Millions". I'm surprised Monty didn't meet up with a Cub selling popcorn.

"Everything is a test; not every test is passed" This story seems appropriate to the thread... 2005 Jamboree. I am walking back to my campsite (Mahon) , just after lunch time. Lots of Scout folks around, coming and going. I notice, off to the side of the walkway, an area covered with lunch bags and wrappers. Looks like some group (Patrol?) had the official lunch, sat down in a rough circle, ate and just left it where they had sat. I walk over, look around, look at all the others walking by. I say out loud, "could I have a little help here?" and start picking up the trash. Immediately, a half dozen Scouts come near and start to help. I mention that somebody forgot their Leave No Trace training. Giggles, guffaws, "hey", "Yeah", "I guess"... In less than a minute, all the detritus is collected and in the trash can. I thank the Scouts , they say "sure", "no problem", "OK", and move on. Is this the kind of thing we're talking about here?

We really need a "Faith, Religion and Chaplaincy" forum category.

The comment comparing Mr. Buffet's tax percentage to his secretary's reminded me of a conversation I had with my mom-in- law (no jokes, now, she's a lovely lady). She said the AARP folks come to her retirement community and do their tax returns for free. She has had an ongoing relationship with the same woman who does her taxes for several years now. MiL noticed that her tax this year was noticably lower than last year and asked why. Taxlady told her it was because the Capital Gains this versus last were so much higher, being a greater share of the income. Made more money , differrent category, less tax. ?

Real cuts in SPENDING, not in less of an increase. Ten percent cut in paper clips,F35s, walnut desks, Ospreys, EVERYTHING. Ten percent raise in federal income, thru graduated tax, better tracking of tariffs and elimination of many "loopholes" (no need to list any here) and exemptions and deductions. Apply savings to debt, NOT to other programs

" The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit." = Nelson Henderson =

"a really cool patch" an "attaboy" Karma credit... warm feeling inside.... Smile from someone who needed a lift... Letter to frame to hang on the wall... a possible job offer... a new friend... sore muscles, in a good way... "Show me what a man does with his hands that I may know his heart" (Amish proverb)

So where do they publish the minutes of the National BSA Board? It isn't in Scouting magazine... I don't ever remember reading of any such resolution in the recent Scouting mags... Now, that might be interesting reading here...

Thank you

*anecdotal* Got a 23 year old niece that is of the opinion that "they" should not take out FICA because "there won't be any money to give me anyway when I retire. If I retire". I have a niece and nephew-in-law (?) that tell us that SS should be "privatized" or even eliminated, because "it isn't relavant to our lives" ( they are in their mid 40s)and they could "do a better job investing our own money". They drive two big SUVs and take cruises and have been legally "bankrupt" twice. My pension from gov't service is nice, but we can't live purely on that (wife is still working) so I work three P/T and am looking for something more permanent. But who wants to hire a 63 year old at more than medium wages?

"Completely Irresponsible", yeah just dug that Robert Palmer video.... all the Congressmen in the background just grooving to the rythum... How can it be permissible They compromise my principle, yeah yeah That kind of law is mythical Congress is atypical They're a craze youd endorse, they're a powerful force Youre obliged to conform when theres no other course They used to look good to me, but now I find them... Simply irresponsible Simply irresponsible They're loving 'cause it's powerful, huh Its simply unavoidable The trend might be irreversible The congress is redactable Ain't a natural law, they leave me in awe They deserve no applause, I surrender because They used to look good to me, but now I find them Simply irresponsible Simply irresponsible Simply irresponsible they're not kind, theres no tellin where the money went Simply irresponsible they're all mine, the corporations say that's the way to go Its unavoidable, we're backed against the wall They give me feelings like I never felt before Im breaking promises, they're breaking every law They used to look good to me, but now I find them Simply irresponsible They're that kind, theres no tellin where the money went Simply irresponsible they're all mine, the corporations all say that's the way to Go Their methods are inscrutable The proof is irrefutable, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh They're so completely dismissable, huh Our lives are so rescissible They'd choke a horse, it's a powerful force Youre obliged to conform when theres no other course They used to look good to me, but now I find them Simply irresponsible Simply irresponsible They're so fine, theres no tellin where the money went Simply irresponsible they're all mine, theres no other way to go There's no time, theres no tellin where the money went Simply irresponsible , it's about time, theres no other way to go Completely irresponsible.

Skipper: My favorite lite wate (extra letters? e?) encouragement is : "Courageous Cookery" by John Echo* Once the convert backpacker or cycle camper has accepted the subtle gustatory nuances associated with sustained operations beyond the chrome, he should try the advantages of ultra fringe living so that he will realize what he is paying for his nested pots and pretty pans carried so diligently and brought home so dirty after every "wilderness experience". The following system works. It is dependable and functional. It works on the big rock. It even works when the weather has gone to hell, you are wet and cold and the wind is blowing down the back of your hairy neck. It is not for the timid. It consists of a stove, a six inch sauce pan, a plastic cup and a soup spoon. If you insist on a metal cup, you must never fail to mutter "I'm having fun, I'm having fun", every time you spill the soup on your sleeping bag. Breakfast: Instant wheat cereal-- sugar and powdered milk added-- ready two minutes after water boils. Eat from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water, boil, and add powdered eggs and ham. You'll never taste the cereal anyway. In three minutes, eat eggs. Do not wash pot. Add water or snow and boil for tea. Do not wash pot. Most of the residue eggs will come off in the tea water. Make it strong and add sugar. Tastes like tea. Do not wash pot. With reasonable technique, it should be clean. Pack pot in rucksack and enjoy last cup of tea while others are dirtying entire series of nested cookware. Lunch: Boil pot of tea. Have snack of rye bread, cheese and dried beef. Continue journey in 10 minutes if necessary. Dinner: Boil pot of water, add Wylers dried vegetable soup and beef bar. Eat from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water and potatoes from dry potatoe powder. Add gravy mix to taste. Eat potatoes from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water and boil for tea. Fortuitous fish or meat can be cooked easily. You do not need oil or fat. Put half inch of water in pot. Add cleaned and salted fish. Do not let water boil away. Eat from pot when done. Process can be done rapidly. Fish can even be browned somewhat by a masterful hand. Do not change menu. Variation only recedes from the optimum. Beginners may be allowed to wash pot once a day for three consecutive days only. It is obvious that burning or sticking food destroys the beauty of the technique. If you insist on carrying a heavier pack, make up the weight you save with extra food. Stay three days longer.

I think it is good that the WELS and ELS encourage their faithful to emulate Christ. One can easily find Responsive Readings from the BSA Scout Law, based on the Old Testement (Torah) and the New Testamant. I have not found any based in the Bagavadgita or the Lotus Sutra, but here is a source for one based on the Qu'ran: http://www.boyscouters.org/bayshore/resources/reverent /Islamic.pdf

Go to your arts and crafts store and purchase several acid free display boards or panels. The three fold variety is good, but the flat 1/8 thick foamcore is good too. Ask the staff. Also, ask for acid free double stick tape. Take ALL the ribbons off , gently wipe them clean with a DRY cloth and gently (cool) iron them, print side down. If you do it print side up, you risk rubbing the print off. Do not wash them in a wash machine, the print can come off there, too. Organize the history of your pack as you will, straight chronologically, or by activity, or as you will, lay the ribbons attractively on the boards. Make sure the ribbons are identified on the tag on the back as to date, whu and what... Use the double stick tape to affix your mementos for all to see and save. Attach the next ribbons to your flag and enjoy.

Hey, Remember the "game with a purpose" idea? Well there's where the re=testing comes in. Make it a game. A Patrol competition, to lash up a long pole to "rescue" something, or track someone, or fold up a large flag, or a knot tying relay, or a large Kim's game, or a Troop camporee station rotation. Again, it is ALLOWING the Scout to live up (not down to) to a certain expectation. Scout led? If the SM and ASMs instruct the older Scouts (SPL, PL, etc.) to set such a competition up for the younger Scouts, the older ones have to re=learn what they have neglected, in order to save face in front of the younger ones. Camp? Fire building competition. Prize for the best laid out campsite. Cook with raw ingredients, not packages. Ribbons, beads, Bling for the results. Movie tickets. Micky Dee's coupons. Ask, and lots of places will give you free stuff for prizes for "Scouts". But it is the standard to be met, NOT the standard to be approached. "Is only do. Or do not. Is no try".