SSScout

Actual question from a student ::: "So when did they decide to celebrate Independance Day? On the Fourth?"

If you order a new flag from one of the several manufacturers, it will arrive in a rectangular box folded rectangularly. I see nothing disrespectful about that. The triangular fold is a tradition of unknown origin, the US flag lends itself very well for the fold. The proportions just happen to be suitable to end up all blue. Congratulations to your nascent Eagle. May he always be an Eagle.

Oh, it can happen. Happened to me. Three times. #1. Fourth grade trip. Local museum. No, I'm sorry, it was the fire house...We walked to it, as I remember. Walking back, I ended up as the tail end charlie (didn't know the term then), and missed the turn to the school. Teacher didn't miss me until they got all the way back to the class room. But I did what my folks had taught me, when I realized I was lost, I stayed in one place until the teacher and principal found me in a short while. Oh, and I knew my address and phone number (still do, come to think of it. Walker 4- 9724...) #2. Newly minted Boy Scout... 5th grade. Whole Troop went downtown to the Warner Theater to see "Ben Hur" at Easter time. Went by parents cars. My folks were busy, so I rode with another group. After the movie, somebody miscounted and I AND a buddy were left behind. Sunday afternoon in DC, we thought, wow, what an adventure. We counted our joint finances, decided we didn't have enough for a taxi, didn't know the bus routes, but we did know what street we were on and which way home was (we are Scouts, right?). ummm. We could walk. No, better call our folks and let them know. Theater manager would'nt let us use his phone! I remember that! So we had to use the pay phone. We had enough nickles and dimes for that. Had to wait almost two hours for one of our parents to come get us. I understand my dad had a polite conversation with someone about this, but accidents will happen. #3. Much later Scout trip. Pack up, clear camp, I'm the Patrol Leader. I tell my buddies to go ahead, I have to pack my tent yet, meet me at the trail head, a mile down the trail. My mistake there. Later, when I'm at the trail head, I discover , they've left without me! Umm, weell no worry, I'm self contained, I hike the three miles out to the main road, and lo and behold, Mr. Walters has had second thoughts, and comes back looking for me. Any other stories out there to share?

Very interesting post. If you ask the Cub's mom, you'll also find out that they won't be celebrating Jesus' birthday , either. Not least reason being, we don't really know when it is, really. I would ask her, is she glad her son was born? Then the acknowledgement of the boy's birth need not be a super brouhaha, merely an acknowledgement that, "hey, we're glad you're here". Same for the rest of the Pack, "hey, we're glad you're all here". No singing, then go swim. Cake is optional. No exchange of gifts.

I like the demarcation of the Benefiting Organization versus the Scout. The Scout SHOULD NOT solicit donations TO HIMSELF of any kind for the project. The donations must be made ON BEHALF of the benefitting organization, TO that organizatiion. Perhaps that is where the difficulty lies?

Ms F.Fish: I am surprised that it this take has not yet been mentioned. "I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout." How does the Scout's behavior and language square with the above? And how does the mom's behavior support the Scouts' (plural) adherance to the above? This is where I would begin my discussion and counsel.

Upside down airplanes on postage stamps... Baseball uniforms (first day a couple of years ago) "NATINALS" Graduation programs, this year (washposttoday) "GEORGETOWN UNVISERTY"

I wish Filson made Scout coats. Seems like the right green to me. http://www.filson.com/products/double-mackinaw-cruiser.10041.html?fromCat=true&fvalsProduct=mens/coats-jackets&fmetaProduct=1011

Amen, brother... PRETTY PUL-LEEEZZE can we have a "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum???

May we PLEASE have a "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum?

Yes, I've been away for this very reason. Last I was here, a cover page appeared that declared my machine was infected with mucho bad stuff, and it TRIED to look like a legit windows page, but the weird grammar was my tipoff. "many virus in attack machine" and such. it was a dotczdotcc www2dothardguardwhg site. Beware. All appears okay now, Norton spent about an hour and a half rescanning the whole machine.

PWD , like the rest of Scouting, can bring out the BEST in folks, and the worst. Lots of good ideas here. I will suggest one more: Since the problems seem to be with Pack parents running the event, remove that problem by having someone else run the event. Contact a local BSTroop to run the event. Our local CPack has it's BSTroop run the whole shebang. The Pack owns the equipment (new AL electronic track, record software, milk crate and pillow stopper, race flags, etc. ) The Scouts come in and run everything: weigh in, size cert, announcements, heat starts, running cars, EVERYTHING except the record point keeping, which the SM does 'cause it's his laptop and projector. This has many good results. The Cubs see Scouts at work, the parents know it ain't so and so causing his son to win (or lose), the Cubs can enjoy the races (along with the parents) because once the car is checked in, the car is out of their hands. The BScouts get a kick out of doing something "official" and can give vent to their talents and also be a "big brother" to the Cubs for the day. And it is a DAY, the Pack is big one and they make it a picnic with hotdogs and drinks to sell. Almost 5 hours of racing and other stuff. When the Cubs get tired of racing, they take'm out and run'em around with Steal the Bacon and other games. KiSMiF

All good ideas... Partner with a local bike shop, and contact a local bike club, I recommend the League of American Bicyclists (usta be League of American Wheelmen). They sponsor Effective Cycling classes and love to come to schools and talk to kids. I dare say the local Bicycling Merit Badge Counselor may be a member. http://www.bikeleague.org/ Bicycling Belt Loop!! http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/sports/bicycling.asp May is National Bicycling Month !!

"So take a look, it is a book, a reading rainbow...." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6j8EiWIVZs "... I can be ANYTHING, a reading rainbow..."

Yes, that is all well and good (to make a moral judgement) but would you like someone to care for your pet? Jesincase?

The need for doing the Archery MB ONLY at at a Scout Camp is not a requirement. Do diligence with the "Sweet Sixteen", have a qualified (RSO-BSA trained) counselor, a safe range (around here, we have many Archery Clubs and IWL ranges available, camping can be arranged!) and make a good day! However, in my experience, you really can't do the whole AMB in one single weekend. Two is possible, or the weekend with some previous homework or Troop meeting work. Plan your work and work your plan!

My buddy in Canada tells me they are adopting a "new and improved" uniform , including Active Wear, after some amount of polling and surveys. He tells me that the designs may not have really reflected the polls and surveys that he knew of, but that's just his opinion..... They are over the collar, fersure. And while the Joefresh company has the consession, it is unknown where the uni's are to be manufactured. Any bets on North America? http://www.scouts.ca/uniformlaunch/ http://www.joefresh.com/en

We REALLY need a "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum/department/area/section, whatever.... Merl and his good friends (not to be confused with "Friends", RSo), have taken the opportunity to assuage the concerns of some of us as 21 May approaches... (see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/04/may-21-2011-judgment-day_n_804166.html ) If you, as a BAC, are enraptured away, then you need not fear for the care of your pets. This group (http://eternal-earthbound-pets.com/ ) will, for a small registration fee , come and adopt your dog/cat/goldfish/rabbit/budgie and care for them, at least until there is no longer a need to care for them. For another interview with EEBP,USA founder, see http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/doomsday-approaches/2011/05/05/AFcZJn7F_story.html Entrepreneurial genius at work.(This message has been edited by SSScout)

The punishment part, if the Scouting program in your Troop is good, will be automatic. The P/T Scout will not advance as fast as his fellows, and will not have the privileges thereby. Back in my day, my Troop had an annual Patrol contest. Points for attendance, points for contest winners (at least once a month, sometimes more often, at Troop meetings, a competition between Patrols. Knot tying, lash up a tower, signaling a message, tug o'war, fire building, something), points for campout stuff (neat campsite, camp gadgets, etc.) . SPL and the PLC did the judging and point awarding. We had 4 Patrols. The points were posted on the wall in the Troop room for all to see. The winning Patrol received an all expense paid trip to someplace special, a campout at Assategue Island, or down to Norfolk, or such. The Troop treasury footed the bill and the Troop dads did the planning and arrangements, we just had to show up. It spurred a great deal of effort on all Boy Scouts part, I think.

Merl! Long time no read! How's the family?

I daresay this is the kind of duty the NatGuard likes to do. "Your tax dollars at work". And to the Troop leaders, Thanks for all you do, and did.

We really do need a "Chaplaincy and Faith" department/forum. I agree with those that espouse a wait and see atitude. The religious belief of the boy will come as it will. Please see BP's pronouncement and definition about Scouting and Religion from his Aids to Scoutmastering, cited elsewhere. I have not seen the matter stated better. If my experience is any judge, the boy , if he sticks with his TING stance, will resign from Scouting of his own accord. He will become concerned with the hypocracy of his belief/lack of and the Scout Promise and Law. If he finds his faith, then the Scout will become really loyal to the movement. Something to point out: Many Scout associations around the world do not have any God mention in their promise or have a Reverence in their Law. And... it is almost always the adults that get in the way of Scouting. I just came back this weekend from doing IOLS, and talking about religion and "Scout's Own" services. Scouts can often work up a spiritual service that includes all their own faiths, Jewish, Christian, whatever, to the amazement of the adults and the oh-hum of the Scouts. My advice to SMT224 mirrors what has been said before: Wait and see. If you have some appropriater SMMinutes about faith and action, use them, but no need to single out the Scout. I am reminded of the Amish adage "Hands to work, Hearts to God" Put your Scout's hands to good work, and see if the heart will follow.

The competitive accurate propulsion of various projectiles is , has been, and will be attractive to young (and old!) humans, since the first atlatl or woomera was invented. (see new Venture Scout activity). I think it is appropriate and useful that BSA can organize and teach and encourage the RESPONSIBLE and SAFE use of arrows, BBs, Shotguns, rifles, rocks (yes, rock throwing, see http://www.camps.ppbsa.org/camps/wheeler/programs.htm for an example), black powder flint locks, spears, slingshots, tomahawks, and knives (did I leave anything out?) for ACCURACY and SKILL. Oh yeah, and catapults and trebuchets of various sizes and calibers. I do remember seeing Scout Troops represented at the Punkin' Chunkin' comps on the TV, too. And, as in all things, it is the LOCAL folks that must take the lead in making sure it is the SAFEST it can be. National can espouse guidelines and such, but it is the LOCAL folks that have to insist on the best way to let our Scouts throw and shoot and hit targets satisfactorilly and SAFELY. If you see something that isn't quite right, or COULD be a danger, SPEAK UP. Don't end up a "if only I had". You have to play the "WHAT IF" game all the time in Scouting. And , no matter how many precautions and goggles and helmets and gloves and training and oversight we take, someone can and will get hurt. But make it RARE, rather than USUAL. OOOO.... a camporee with all that stuff lined up to try? Loooong range line, huh? "Common sense" isn't common, after all. Ed: Ooops, forgot. We are lacking handguns and boomerangs. Ultimate frisbee? can get serious in the strong hand... Darts? Blowgun? Watermelon seed spitting? Water pistols? (This message has been edited by SSScout)(This message has been edited by SSScout)

The food shortage in NK is certainly not caused by the US and nothing in the article accuses the US of causing the food shortage. If Carter mentions that the US could do more to alleviate the stavation, I do not see that as his BLAMING the US for the problem he is encouraging the US to try and ameliorate, by any means. Pack brings up a very good point. And as for friend Brent, it might be good to make a list of US aadministrations that did NOT play footsy with a dictator when it seemed to be in the "nation's interest", regardless of that nation's people's interest. 4 years ago, some rabbits were sold to NK for a breeding program. Hasenpfeffer is gooood.... but it is alleged that the big bunnies never got the chance to do the bunny thing. Read below. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1615350.ece The NK leadership makes it hard to blame anyone but...

Depending on leadtime, definitely the scrapbook. Our District has a "Unit Leader Award" that is reserved for adults in the Scout Unit that are deserving of something more than an "attaboy". You might inquire of your UCommissioner or DE about that possibility in your District. This is not the Square Knot "District Scouter" award, but for an exemplar Unit Leader. Also ribs and homemade coleslaw. Can't go wrong with that. AANNDD... With some clever work, you could create your own award, mebbe a "SCO_T AWARD" (what's missing? "U" are! and our SCO_T _NIT will not be the same because WE WILL MISS U!" Too often, we delay in telling how we appreciate someone, either their actions or example. Do it now.