SSScout

SM had another C/O to do the same night, so he asked me to take care of C/O #2. Went with BSHBs, neckers and tabs. Knew I had 3 boys to welcome, in company with two other Troops. Initially, I had not met these boys or their parents. I had their names, that's all. OA team did a nice job, made the evening very memorable. The CM said a few goodby words, introduced the Scouters from the three Troops, and the boys made their walk. I welcomed my Troops three boys, and then introduced myself to the parents and collected their names, phone numbers and emails and gave them mine and the SM's. SPoke with them at length about our meeting times, activities and such. Assured them their boys were in a good Troop and we looked forward to having them on the next hike (on such a date). All three are still with us, 2years later, very active, the dads are also very connected. I credit the active interest I gave them right then and there.

There's a competition for you... give advance notice so the Patrols can study up on it, then space'm across a 200 yard wide "gorge", and have them "attempt" (ha!) to send and receive Wig Wag signals with the neckerchief tied to a Scout Staff. Dot to the right (Patrol medallion is a round Dot), dash to the left (Troop number is a long Dash), space is down, period is up-down, up is 'tween letters. Hey, put one Patrol on the north side, one Patrol on the south. Each sends a message to the other, if it is received correctly, they both get points!

Clenlaw: I think you have the right impression. But so do you also have the right atitude, the one about camping, the one about the "out" in "scout". I think you know, if you think about it, that you are in this Scouting stuff for not a short time. If you were not a Scout in your childhood, you are here, now, in it for your CHILD'S childhood. I think that's what I mean. Anyhow, think about the other Cubs and their parents. The cabin camping is , afterall, a good intro to the wild and wooly stuff. Gradual is good. Can't expect the beginners to want to go wilderness trekking on the firat time,umm? Take the BALOO training so you have the certification to help plan your Pack's outdoor stuff. Your son has a dad (and mom?) that are outdoorsy, yes? Take the Tiger Den (and,eventually, the Pack) along with you when you hike. They will find the fun stuff along the way. One of the Tigers I led umteen years ago just got his Eagle. He remembered the old Den Leader... Set the example, be available to the boys, the parents will come along.

As can be seen, we are talking both equipment and technigue/skill differences. If you can find the old gear, might pack up (frinstance) an M4 plywood packframe with a Yucca pack, filled with wool and polyolifin insulated sleeping bag, aluminum canteen, cookkit, metal box first aid kit, canvas tent, rubber nylon poncho, etc. strapped on with diamond hitch.... and then pack up a comparable Kelty/Gregory internal frame pack with comparable ultralight stuff. Compare weight, service, and let Scouts try'em on.

Choice one: Go to sewing/notions section of local store, seek out tool named "seam ripper". Choice two: Go to work bench, seek out tool known as "razor blade paint scrapper". Take one of above choices in one hand, hold Scout shirt sleeve appropriately in other hand, and REMOVE THE POCKET by slooooowllly and caaaarefffuullly cutting out the thread holding it to the sleeve. Do not be in a hurry. You can do this. Leaves sleeve open for patch wearing. Small thread holes do not show, will be covered up by patch, will blend back into sleeve material eventually.

Boomerscout has the right of it. I was a Cub, Bobcat back in, oh , let's see, 1955 I was 7, and my mom was one of our several Den moms. I earned Lion and then Webelos rank (with the Arrow strip). Went on into BScouts. When I came back to Scouting as an adult, and discovered the new ranks, I thought that they had not necessarily done a good thing by enlarging the Webelos rank by a year and removing the Lion rank. Even as a boy, then, I discerned the rank progression: Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Lion as a logical progression of size and bravery/meaness/strength... I do not understand the rationale of starting as a Lion and then a Tiger and then a Wolf... it short circuits the Junglebook connection, too. Where does Mowgli come into this? And Akela? A cub (wolfcub?) is by rights the start of the pack progression, if one is to retain the Junglebook mythos. Or maybe Kipling is no longer appropriate for our boys to learn from.

The ribbons are the Troop's history. I would not discard them. I also would not send them to some unsuspecting Eagle or their parent. They might have shared in that history , but you are then diluting that history. The recipients then have to decide what to do with them. I like Dk's idea, but it would prove to get unwieldy eventually. Here is what some Troops and Packs have done: Go to your local hobby shop, and buy some acid free display boards, maybe the trifold kind such as kids use for their "science fair" displays. And get some acid free double stick tape, maybe in the scrapbook department. Take the ribbons off the flagpole and sort them out as to type or year or both. Using a COOL iron, not hot, smooth the ribbons out, print side down (the printing may melt off the ribbon!). Arrange them on the display boards and double stick tape them to the boards. Makes a nice display for B&G banquets, CoHs and the like. Portable, too. Admire the fact that your Troop has been to so many places and done so many things. Use as an inspiration to the PLC for future endeavors.

Perhaps the reasons are more, dare I say it, pecuniary in nature . By enlarging the possibly suitable age range, they are making it more likely the Jamboree will be filled. Wasn't there some retrenching of Jamboree enrollments/expectations this last time? And Philmont is already behind in it's usual enrollments this term. Our Troop was recently offered about two dozen open trek dates, and we weren't normally eligible this season having gone just two years ago. That wasn't expected a-tall. This is a NEW, unproven venue. Oh, I know, it will be an unforgetable event as always, no doubt. But, there are also unforgetable bills to pay, despite Bechtel's largesse. They can't expect really new, young Scouts to succeed at the Jamboree, it is something more than the usual Scout summer camp. You have to expect some maturity and ability to navigate solo, so can't make it too young. By the by, any word on the level of summer camp reservations? Or is it too early to judge those things?

Eammon: That is known as "cognitive dissonance", where a really poor, or dumb choice, or bad result is justified by the "owner" as a really good choice because of 'loyalty' or 'future' possibilities, or trying to convince others that the poor choice is a good choice for them too, thus 'sharing' the agony and diluting it somehow..." At the top of the coleseum stands, 40mph zero dgree wind in your face: Repeat after me: "I have season tickets and you don't, I have season tickets and you don't..." A Chicago Cub fan might understand your Steeler fan friend's belief system. A dad or mom might loyaly come to hear their son or daughter scrape a bow across the violin strings at their recital, thus justifying the months (?years?) of lessons. Maybe a future Heivitz, maybe not. But that's loyalty. I know I'll be proud of my son's accomplishments, even allowing for the years of whippings to get him there. ;-) I had a boss who was truly surprised that his employees had no desire to stay late or volunteer for O/T. He could not make the connection between his treatment of the crew and their feelings of not being 'appreciated' in their efforts. I nominated a man for a compliment for an action the man performed. Record a compliment for THAT? The boss responded that the man was "just doing what he was expected to do", and denied the compliment. This boss was like that. Loyalty? I could not name anyone in the office that was sorry to see him promoted sideways to another site. Loyalty is more earned and deserved. It can not be merely expected.

Yep. Gotta ask'em. We had a Hindu family join our Troop. We are sponsored and meet in a Methodist church. They came regularly and the boy made friends. Came time for the first campout together, they tried real hard to make allowances for the family's dietary concerns, everybody ate vegetarian for the weekend! Unfortunately, they dropped out over the dietary thing. Their boy couldn't resist the temptation his Scout buddies represented. No religious conflict seen, as the boys handled all that. No adults to muck it up.

Amen, brother. The P/C is way overpriced, and only for the good of the organization will folks buy it. If one WANTS popocorn, one goes in the grocery, if one WANTS cookies, one LOOKS for a Girl Scout. That said, my local CPack sold over $26,000. of P/C this year. One Cub did over $1,000. by hisself. Or his family? This is one reason why the related STroop does not sell P/C, but Christmas decor.

Jimi Hendryx, well, okay, I guess. Real fireworks in the music... Operatic versions are de classe. I like to point people in the direction of Marvin Gaye's version. The local jazz radio station opens and closes it's day with it. If you look for it, you can find an mp3 version to buy. Most National Anthems are , unfortunately, military in nature. They rarely try to be really representative of the nation in question. Canada seems to have two, and , I find, several revisions, now. I like the new Maple Leaf lyrics. http://www.nationalanthems.us/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1099436035 Sweden has a lovely anthem, and it is often said to be a "scandinavian" anthem, rather than a national Swedish one. Music can be a uniter or a divider. I think of Sibelius' Finlandia, and how the Nazis banned it from performance (anywhere!) in the Second World War. Such an evocative piece. Used to be, that some folks even thought Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever was or should be our National Song. Now there's some stand up and pay attention music! Sousa even wrote lyrics for it, you know. Think you have trouble singing the SSB? Look up the S&SF lyrics up and try singing those! Oh, there was a football game, too?

Very good. I like the one about the pile of clothing in the changing tent. And I 'd really like to hear more about how Cub Scouts help catch bank robbers. Kinda like the Li'l Rascals episode, I guess. What I'd like to do is jog your memories about trips, adventures, and activities where you got to the point when you had to say (to yourself, if no one else) "oh nuts... I forgot the ... " and then had to scramble to get thru things... Frinstance, I was co-leading a bike trip once, was the 'go to' guy for bicycling. Early in the morning, I packed the car, lunch, tools, bike... and met everyone at the start of the tour, went to unload the car, opened the trunk, and ... no front wheel. It was leaning against the house back porch where I had put it to load the bike in the car. I was the "sag wagon" that trip. And folks were sloooow to let me forget it! C'mon, now, any other admissions of commissions?

As Robert Frost once said in an interview late in his life, "there was a good reason that road was less traveled."

(doubled)(This message has been edited by SSScout)

All Cows Eat Grass Fine Boys Do Funny Acts Daily

Interesting subject. Mementos to thank folks for helping. It can be a nice touch, but it's hard when it becomes a "tradition" or "expected". (" what if I forgot someone?" "Howcum he got that?") Woodbadge staff: I received a trowel (I was a quartermaster),a B-P book. CSDC: I received (1 year)a bag of skincream/sunblock, (2) a small LED flashlight (3)a lunchbag (4) another lunchbag (5)coupons for donuts/coffee (6) carrabiner keyring (7) insulated travel mug (7) bag to clip on belt to carry (8) a water bottle that I got year before. Wife/CDirector received a nice poster signed by seemingly every DenLeader and Cub. Summer Camp Staff: Coffee mugs, many. From Troop I commish: Nice folding lockback knife. Many times: A special patch. Eagle Projects: nothing except Pizza for lunch (usually). NSJ Staff: special commemorative coin handed to me by Someone I Did Not Expect To Meet. From work: On completion of special projects, anniversaries: umbrellas, a really cheap 35mm camera, a nice embroidered jacket, a set of stainless steel cooking pots (engraved!), a shoulder bag, ballcaps, tshirts, certificates, colorful pins. I once gave some folks who had helped me with a Scout project each a book by Ernest T. Seton. I bought all the Scoutstore had, just enough.

Thank you! Fun anecdote. So I am in the local burger place with family (wife and Scoutson) and another family sits down at the table next to us. Dad has on a camp Tshirt from a place in Florida. Mom and boys, one about my son's age and size, one a little younger. I lean over and say "welcome to Maryland". Other dad says "thanks" and then notices my antique (red on green) Scout cap. And we talk. And our sons are suitably embarrassed. Ha! Wives exchange knowing glances. As we leave, we shake hands and everybody says goodbye, even Scoutson.

I believe the operant word in the OP's first post is "consider". ...would the Pack CONSIDER paying $50. a month. They did not say "or else". The need is for conversation and understanding, on both sides. If the church has some financial problems, they are not alone in this in this modern world. I think the Pack did the right thing in helping with the fundraising dinner. That shows good faith. I bet the Cubs had a good time and learned a bit about service to others? And cooking? True, some COs see Scouting as part of their "youth ministry" whether the American Legion, Lions Club, or Baptist church. And they support their Scouts the best they can. I dare say the church CO in question is wondering how to pay the furnace fuel bill that increased 40% over last year, and the choir robes are looking alittle less wonderful than they did when new 20 years ago. Make more overtures. Be appreciative that they have been a supportive (?) CO these many years, and ask how the Pack can help. "The Pack helps the Cub Scout grow. The Cub Scout gives good will". Here's where the "good will" comes in. Matters not if one or half the Pack are attenders/members of the CO. There is a mutual dependency and responsibility here, Pack to CO, and CO to pack. Each can help the other, if it can only be seen that way. Other Packs do pay for the use of their facilities. My Pack did, meeting in the local school AP room. Our CO was pretty much hands off, they had no physical facility of their own, but helped in other ways when asked, and not much else. We were expected to pay our way, with popcorn, carwashes and fees. The present Pack I commish is blessed with a CO that at first was stand offish ("we have a Scout Pack? Really?") , but now is totally behind the Scout units it charters. Scout Sunday, IH at the Troop CoH, and B&G dinner, mention in the church bulletin all the time. Approach the church leadership with understanding and openness. You both can benefit from the presence of the other. Come with an expectation that the "right thing" will happen, and it likely will, whatever that may be.

""It is a sad Reflection, that many Men hardly have any Religion at all; and most Men have none of their own: For that which is the Religion of their Education, and not of their Judgment, is the Religion of Another, and not Theirs."" ==William Penn== The personal developement of a faith often is NOT a logical progression, and can not be depended on to happen just when we want it to. I cannot think of any religiously active person that I admire/revere/respect who can truthfully say that they came to their faith by LOGIC. I did not come to my faith purely on the basis of my parents teachings (not that they had many), or that of any given religious leader (in person or on tv or elsewhere). It came about for me in a progression of inquery. And revelation. And surprise. And "aha" moments. I have three cats at home. I was sitting on our couch, minding my own business, when Nick came and sat on the table beside me,about 1 foot away from me. I was caught by the realization that every hair on his head was pointed in exactly the correct direction to support and assist every other hair. And he had exactly three longer, special hairs, whiskers, vertically placed above each eye. And there were other "special" hairs behind his cheeks, and each was pointed in the exact direction it needed to be. Not across each other, not forward or down (those directions were taken up by other special hairs). How, why did these hairs get this way, on this cat, at this time? So many hairs, correctly, accurately, angled so as to not interfere with any other hair, grown so long and no longer, and colored just so, in those places and no others... Did Nick keep them all neatly combed and brushed? Sure, but his efforts only encouraged what was already happening. Did they get that way by pure chance, over many millions of years of evolution? Possibly, but wow! It is totally appropriate for our children to question the faith of their parents (and Scout leaders) and if we cannot show the benefit/reason/necessity/appropriateness of it to their satisfaction, well, maybe we need to find out why we believe what we do, rather than complain that THEY don't agree with us. Then too, as has been alluded to, The hypocracy of faith of others is often an atheist's best argument for the way they believe. I tend to agree with clemlaws first response. We do ask the Scout to promise to be "reverent" and faithful in his "duty to God" . Fortunately, we do not (should not?)require him to define how he perceives God, or to actively describe how he DOES his DtG. Perhaps one's duty to the Godhead/almighty/creator/thru His son etc. is to NOT believe in him/her/it, however paradoxical that may seem. I believe it was Gandhi who observed that the best Christians he knew were Muslim. "By their fruits shall ye know them". If I were to define the faithful by their actions, I would have a hard time so categorizing many supposedly Christ followers by their adherence to the Rabbi's teachings. But then, I have to agree with the folks who call attention to the OP's speaking the words, espousing the Promise and Law, and then openly flouting them? What does that indicate? The faith needs to be there to be a True Scout. As to his sexual proclivities, at no time should that ever be a considerartion UNLESS he brings it up. Ain't no rule (that I specifically know of) ,but I think that no Scout, of any age, should be sexually active or suggestive or provocative as a Scout. Hetero or otherwise. In my Scout career, except in "hypothetical" cases, it hasn't come up. Yet.

The Webelos Scout deserves to receive the following: A completed "Compass", a bunch of colorful pins, the AoL patch which he can wear on his BScout uniform,and perhaps a certificate, all available from BSA supply/store. Beyond that: When I was the WebDenLeader, and I have almost always seen other WDLers do the same, I created and presented some special keepsake of the event of receiving his AoL award. The placque I gave them was simple and not hard to make. The biggest part was the 1" thick "cookie" I cut from a log I had taken down in our yard. Two coats of polyeurothane. To this, I glued the 4"x4" Webelos patch I bought at the Scoutshop, then woodburned (old soldering iron) the boys name, Pack number and date. Earlier, I had found some old wood colored arrows with intact fletching, but bad shafts and points. I cut off the bad parts, leaving about 8" of fletch end. Drill a hole, slanted behind the patch, and glued the arrow shaft into the hole. Picture hanging gizmo on the back. Three evenings work, about $10 each. Someone in the Pack knows someone who has the tools and parts, and I guarantee the boys will really appreciate the personal quality of anything you give them, arrows or no. And who gains the most from all this? You or the boys, after all? Maybe both? YiS

Depending where you are, call around to your county library, Borders book store, Blockbuster (before they close), any other video store (you never can tell), check with your local Unit Commissioner and District Executive, and any Cubmasters you are acquainted with. Check the various movie threads on this site for "plan Bs". "Second Hand Lions" is good. Good Luck.

It shall be passed on, even so, effendi...

In a "small town", is the CM/SM's actions/reputation going to stay "secret" for long? Make sure your Troop's rep is good. Keep up the activities and you'll have very little trouble. I also wonder at the reason for his "jumping ship". AND broaden your recruiment efforts , as has been suggested.

Glad to meetcha... Peyton's the oldest? You have a long way ahead in Scouting. The training is good, the experience is better. Just a suggestion, you can take WB early in your career but the usual consensus is that it is better taken after some Scout time. Won't hurt earlier, but what do you have for comparison? Do you have any Scout time yourself? Find some ol'time Scouters (roundtable?)and ask them... Watch out that your wife cooks your favorite meal for your birthday and it comes to the table wrapped in foil...