SSScout

Ditto the above. My union at the time (AFL/CIO) paid for mine. My bosses looked at it and put me in for a pro motion (denied... another story). Also, approach the local Lions Club or Kiwanis or Rotary. All have sponsored local Scouters in the past for such opportunities. And your CO?

First, this is not an emergency that needs an IMMEDIATE solution. It will take time to help these boys overcome their fear of water. Second, there are folks out there that understand this and can help much more than us well meaning email jockeys can provide from the other side of the country. You (or better yet, the parent) needs to seek out these people. Red Cross, swim clubs, Scout Council, local county water rescue squad, YMCA, somebody will know. You (or the parent) won't, unless you make the effort to find them. There is no telling from whence this relunctance stems. Likely the boys will never know themsleves. It may even be related to other things in the family, and I doubt if any Scout leader will ever glean that answer. If the boys have no other "behavioral" problem, then address the water problem. My thoughts, from some personal experience... washing face in sink does help. I bet these boys have issues even with this. Blowing bubbles in the sink. Shower water on face. Gotta sneak up on the demon and beat him. Have they tried goggles or a face mask? Check with a scuba club or shop nearby. I've heard of Scouts being allowed to use these. Rewards of some kind for each minor step succeeded can help. Candy? Movie trip? Pizza? Lots of "attaboy"s. It can't be forced, one has to (in Cub lingo) "Make it Fun, and Keep it Simple", and take it sloooow. Ultimately, the Cub has to WANT to beat it. Adults can't shame or beat him into doing it. It will happen, have faith...

Fund raising seemed appropriate... Anyone else receive the email offering from Buckskin Council to purchase the souvenir of the Summit Groundbreaking? It's a special serial numbered bottle full of dirt (sorry, only way to describe it). Soon to be listed in the "Buckskin Council Online Store" 26 November: www.buckskincouncilbsa.net Unfortunately, I found no mention of it on Buckskin Council's home site. http://www.buckskin.org "A limited collectors package of History In The Making is being offered exclusively by the Buckskin Council, BSA,which serves youth in West Virginia, Kentucky & Virginia. The collector package is a special offer that will only be available until the 1000 packages are sold. This would make a great holiday gift for the Scouter in your family. "The Collectors' Package includes the following items: Individual laser-engraved sequential numbered bottle X / 1000 with BSA Emblem, Location and Date Bottle is filled with soil (sifted & baked) from the Summit Groundbreaking Event and hand dipped in a beautiful red wax to seal the contents. Letter of authenticity from Bob Mazzuca Chief Scout Executive Professional Photograph of the Groundbreaking Participants." " This package is only available for purchase at the Buckskin Council Online Store www.buckskincouncilbsa.net beginning November 26, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. eastern standard time. NOTE: Bottles 1-50, 100, and 1,000 will only be available via online Ebay auctions starting December 1, 2010. Items will be listed under Ebay ID: Buckskin_Council_Bsa *Any orders recieved after December 15, 2010 can not be guaranteed for delivery by Dec 25, 2010.* If you have any glitches ordering please email [email protected] and we will respond as quickly as possible." ((Sorry, can't copy the snazzy pictures that accompanied the above text. Anyone?

Wow... "Demetrius has a raisin farm and has determined that each #8 box can hold 83 raisins. If the Kellogs cereal company needs to fill 214 boxes of Raisin Bran, and one #8 box of raisins will fill one Raisin Bran box, how many raisins must Demetrius pick (assuming the raisins are ripe) to fulfill the order, if Kelloggs makes the order??"

I know of no "policy" to invoke here (perhaps the uniform vs commercial enterprise mentioned above), however, I think someone might remind your SM of a few things... At our home Troop, everybody knows what everyone does for provender and roof. I retired from the transit agency. An Eagle candidate was glad to have my connections when he proposed rebuilding a neglected bus terminal. One of the ASMs is a contractor. We have spoken many times about my little home projects, materials, methods, he has been very forthcoming with his knowledge and experience. If I asked him, I am sure he would build me a great deck, addition or barn. Has he asked me ? No. Would I ask him if I thought I needed his talent? Absolutely. Another man is a financial planner/broker. We have talked about the economic atmosphere. Has he asked me if he could help me? No. Would I trust him? No doubt. There is a level of social discourse that invites business and one that discourages it. There is OFFERING and then there is ANNOYING. One engenders business, the other does not. Here's an idea: Take Mr. SM aside and ask if he is willing to have someone sign up as the Environmental Science Merit Badge Counselor. Do a Troop "class" in that vein. Invite other insulation contractors, etc. to come in and make presentation to the boys about their work, how it saves energy, prevents global warming and so forth. Then, Mr. SM can bring in his special tools (infra red detector, solar cells, wind turbine, whatever ) and just be one of the presenters. Or can he stand the competition? Point out to this well meaning SM that everybody knows about his business/expertise, but too much reminding can be a BAD thing.

EXCLAMATION POINT!!!! I have the answer! We sell Popcorn to the Chinese!! Ask Mazucca if it's a good idea or not....

IMTHO, I agree that the US flag or it's representation (there's another discussion. Is a picture or patch REALLY a "flag"?) should be displayed with the blue union on the flag's own right. The viewers left, as the flag is observed. Wall, fence, porch, sleeve, long side vertical or horizontal, all the same I think. Blue Union on flag's right.

There's official and "official". I have never seen Troop numbers, Council strips, etc. on the red or green J/S. But I have seen many really neat displays of Scouting experience on the back of them. I know one old Scouter that has several jackets. Each one is a souvenir of a different Jamboree or other big event. All the patches on the back, however, not on the front or sleeves. Then too, back in my Scout daze, I remember one Troop that had matching jackets, not the expensive redwool ones, but matching and they were emblazoned with Troop numbers and insignia on the sleeves and NOTHING on the back... They looked good in formations at camp in the cool weather.

John-in-KC has the short list of choices of action. The SM should corral the Scouts and, if they LIKE Scouting, ask them to invite their friends to consider joining. If they DON'T like Scouting, even in theory, plan on choice#2, unfortunately. I would not even recharter with the problem families. The dynamics are too challenging and it is obvious, even from the short story form of your situation, that the boys are the victims of their environment. Too bad. If the Troop could have stood up to the fathers in the first place, the boys might have benefited. Godspeed and good luck. YiS

Simple. State IDs: driver license. include finger print, any hard to counterfeit measures. Coordinate thru fed service, national data bank. States already coordinate driver records for traffic ticket exchange. My traffic points "earned" in North Carolina show up on my Maryland record reeeaaal quick. As a Census Job Test Examiner, I saw lots of driver licenses, both in and out of state. Even some out-of-country ones. Not that much different thruout the USA. Biggest difference being different forms of serial numbers. And that type of difference can be a good thing, another way to vouch the authentic. I once saw a good looking license, from Connecticut, it read. Picture of the cute young lady presenting it, numbers, holographic seal, restrictions: "A1, D". I turned it over and there was a list of "restrictions": A type of vehicle: 1: Passenger car... B. Daytime use only C: Corrective eye lenses D: For Entertainment purposes and use only... She did not take the test that day.

C42: Just trying to be "inclusive" , I guess. I had a fifty/fifty chance. :-) My apologies. Still, how a particular faith addresses their religious award is ,to me, at least, much an academic exercise and of interest, but not really something for me to critique. We did a "group" when I earned the "God and Country" waaay back when.

And why is ANYONE discussing how a faith administers their own award, which is NOT a BSA award, but is only "approved" for wear on the uniform? If the faith wishes to "teach" the award, that is their thing, not ours. The faith defines the requirements for the award, BSA has no say in how it is learned/counseled/proven. Worksheets, booklets, research essays, sessions with the pastor/rabbi/minister, none of these things are items for outside discussion to my mind. These are for the faith (and it's liaison with BSA) to determine. Now, whether the faith itself is acceptable to the BSA, there's another thread; but I won't start it. Ya, Camilam42 might have come off as "a little rough" on Beavah, but her defensiveness was politely appropriate IMHO.

Any politician, on any level, offer to take a pay cut, even a symbolic one?

Well, of course! A neat idea! Rare that one can learn a new knot/lash and be able to attribute it to it's inventor! Thanks! I will pass it on...

Just recveived latest BSA Scoutstuff catalog. Page 20, "BluBSA Denim Jeans... with BSA logos and all...

"Hello. May I speak to the manager ((of this Outback restaurant)), please?" "I'm the manager. What can I do for you?" "I'm organizing our Cub Pack's Blue and Gold banquet and we'd like to explore having you cater it this year. Do you do that sort of thing?" "Absolutely. Let's look at the menu. We can provide small New York strip steaks, garlic potatoes, and green beans au gratin and tossed salad and rolls. Does that sound alright?" " Oh, that sounds great. We were thinking about a hundred people all together, Cubs and families. How much would that be per person?" " Nothing. We do this all the time and it's our pleasure. I'm a Scout dad myself". "NOTHING??" "Freebie. Glad to do it. You have to come and pick it up, but we will provide all the food and serving gear. We'll have it ready for you at your set time in the warming boxes to carry it in." "Well, thank you!" "Sure thing. Now, when is this happening?" True story. Shhhhh...

Yep. Local mall has an embroidery kiosk, does custom hats, shirts, jackets. The owner is a Scout. He will embroider your name on your shirt (or jacket) for $5. Looks nice, but it kind of blends in. I find a tag is more obvious and eye catching... Jamboree nametags are/were black/blue on tan. Troop issues white on black nametags to all Scouts/Scouters from Scoutshop. Nice touch for forgetful ASMs.(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Ja, ja, ja, stimmt das... serves me right for not checking in mein worterbuch... ..."ornament, trimmings, adornment..." usw. nicht "putsch".

Here 'bouts in the Bawlmer Marlyn area, we have a tradition known as a "putze", from the German for "set" or "install". Also called "Train Gardens", they are often elaborate model train displays set up by private citizens, shopping malls , fire departments or auto body shops. Anything from 1890s towns to Smurf villages to frigate sea battles are modeled with a model train as a tie in (don't say 'toy' train!! ...shiver...). Ever see the USS Enterprise launch jets over an express train? Miniature circus next to the Daylight Limited? Movement and fun are the OOO and AAAHH factors here. Here's a listing in our area, if you're in the neighborhood, check 'em out. Steamed crabs are optional...... http://www.wvmgrs.org/ click on "Grandpa's Holiday Train Garden Page"

I was visiting my wife's office when a collegue came in laughing ,with a box in her hand. Seems she was cleaning out a storage cabinet that had not been used in some time and wanted to know if she should keep this new, unopened box of... carbon paper.

Doesn't hurt to practice and remind folks about "the SSign". CM or SM stands in the front of the room, raises right hand in the SSign, looks at left wrist (watch). When room is sufficiently quiet he/she says (as appropriate) "2 minutes 17 seconds. We can do better than that. ALL RIGHT! LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE!!" ( noise is made) SM/CM puts up SSign. Looks at watch. "OK! 12 seconds. Much better." Meeting continues....

Home school is no obstacle. Check with your other H/Sers and form a combo! Share in the cost of a tutor. Scoutson is H/Sed and is Troop Bugler. The main obstacle is the PRACTICING! Mostly he gets inspired when he sees/hears me warming up for the next Camporee. Even piano lessons will transfer to reading bugle staff. My problem initially was in the paper music. My trombone is bass clef, bugle is treble clef. But the basic theory is the same. "If bugling be the food of Scouting, play on..." or something...

Datswatimtawkinbout... Thanks, Stosh.

Ah, the turn of a word. Mottos (Whatsa motto? nothin'. Whatsa motto wit' you?), slogans. I suppose each generations has their own,in it's own context... Stosh made me think ... "Bet you don't do that again" "Hey! Watch this!" (comment after a grey area comment) "Mebbe, mebbe not". "More like, they be guidelines, actual" "What a revoltin' developement this is" "Yada, yada, yada..."

Search this site for lots of good discussion about bugling. First thing I would recommend, does your school offer a band program? Learning the trumpet or cornet is a good intro to bugle! Actually, any brass instrument can complement bugle . or vice versa.. I played Trombone before becoming Troop bugler (uncle's bugle. Family history!), and still play the occasional camporee or Woodbadge course. Go to the Scoutshop and pick up the bugling CD #AV-054CD, then he can have something to copy/model. The previously mentioned site is very good, too. Buzzing with just the mouthpiece is good practice to strengthen one's embrouchure. The usual bugle only has a range of 6 notes, 7 if your really good. You can play bugle without learning to read music, but the ability to read the charts makes one much more flexible. Pursue the band program if possible. If your Cubson shows real interest, replace the original bugle mouthpiece with a trumpet/cornet one. It is much more comfortable on the lip and the tone is better. A good silver Bach 12C is kinda expensive, but worth it if your boy is the least bit serious about playing bugle. Tie a string on it to prevent it's lose (mine is driven so tight in the bugle I'd have to heat the tube to extract it now!). A man is on his way to a concert at the Kennedy Center in DC. He stops a man on the sidewalk and asks," Hey, can you tell me how to get to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall?" the man shakes his finger at the questioner and proclaims, "PRACTICE! my son, PRACTICE!" Good luck!