SSScout

'Round these parts, the place for non-uniform usual pins is the left pocket left flap corner. I see Baloo pins, religious committee pins, Jamboree staff pins, all kindsa pins there. Sorta became the mutually nonvocally agreed upon place. Just happened.

Find someone who can do a Campfire Ashes talk. Done well,it links the prehistoric taming of fire and our use of it to heat our homes, light our night, scare away the big hungry sabertooths, fuel our travel and discovery, with the need to just sit around a basic fire, stare into the flames and tell stories. Fire is a powerful servant and a hard master. Our church camp has as it's motto: "A Fire At The Center" The talk is also about the connection we have with Scouts and campers long goneby. How BP took a bit of ash from his last campfire and mixed it with the next fire, and then took a bit of that fire's cool ash the next morning to add to the next fire (or didn't. This is an apocrophal story and some say it never happened. But "a Scout is Trustworthy" and I believe the Scouters that told me) The speaker tosses his bit of ash and cinders into the Campfire and the watchers are reminded of the "pedigree" these ashes have. Last years Camporee, the Woodbadge course, the National Jamboree, gone to the moon and back, so many countries, so many states and other camps. And then remind the Scouts that a box of plastic baggies will be there in the morning, if anyone would like a unique souvenir of this wonderful weekend, never to happen again. And Sunday afternoon, when mom asks "What's this bag of dirt doing on my kitchen counter?" ,you can tell her it's making history. All the way back to the stone age...

IMHO, budgeting is important, but not the most. As the QMChef, you have to concern yourself with: Food allergies, dietary concerns (religious restrictions, moral objections, etc.), taste and quality vs quantity, cleanup (LNT? paper plates? real cutlery? recycling vs throw it out?), healthy vs comfort food, caffein (don't forget the decaf and herb tea), skim milk and lofat, soymilk for allergies?. Communicate with your AQMs, make sure they are in the loop and are given the opportunity to help. Remind them of the commitments they make. And ALLOW yourself the luxury of asking for help! Be specific, and call on folks. Make a dry run (many!)out to the course site and get to know the facilities, what's available, what you might need to get. Play the "what if" game. If the previous users of the site do not leave the pots and pans that you were expecting, what then? How self contained can you be? Make sure your CD doesn't "assume" things. Help him/her, put it down in writing. And sing. Make sure you sing in your kitchen. But no food fights. Uh-huh. Not Scout like. YiS

As in all things, it's the people that make the program. Anyone out there know Henry Nygard? Actually he served in the Air Force, but he and his sons established a SShip in Montgomery County, SS759, which I did not join, staying in Dirt Scouting (!), but he was a good friend of our family. The first thing they did was build a raft on 55 gallon drums and float it in the local reservoir. Then they partnered with another SShip on the Ches bay and obtained (don't know how) an old PT boat. That didn't last long, I understand, and I then went off to college and lost track of all. Next time I caught up with Sea Scouts, I discover they have named the annual local regatta after Henry. Oh, it's definitely useful, and needs promotion. All you need is some really dedicated people. http://www.seascout.net/chesapeake/special_events/regatta.htm "Is it so nice as all that?" asked the mole, shyly... "Nice? It's the only thing," said the Water Rat Solemnly, as he leaned forward for his stroke. "Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

I did a short demonstration at Scoutson's Troop. I exhibited my collection of neckerslides and 'chiefs. I then held up the red 'chief from my youth and the blue one of the Troop today. I asked the Scouts, aside from the color, if they saw any difference? All of them noted the bigger size of my old red one (almost 6" longer on a side), and some of them noted that it looked "worn". Well, yes, despite being washed and ironed and kept in a plastic bag, it did have a few snags and rubs on it from it's use 40plus years ago. I explained how we practiced bandages, slings, signalling and were encouraged to USE it , not just WEAR it. We wore it almost every where we went as a Troop or Patrol. About the only place we didn't wear it was when we went camping on the Troop "property"; but to Camporees, out in public, it was on our neck. It meant we were from OUR Troop. We were Scouts.

I started out to make a cute connection to the thread about uniform "patches", but got caught up in the song itself. It's very Scout connected, on it's own. Loyalty , trustworthiness, "do your best", keeping promises, bravery, thriftiness, being helpful, acting kindly to folks, obedience, it's all there. I leave it to someone else to make the Cub/Scoutmaster minute out of this that it deserves. Patches == Clarence Carter (vamp) I was born and raised down in Alabama on a farm way back up in the woods. Oh I was so ragged folks used to call me "Patches". Papa used to tease me about it, but deep down inside dad was hurtin' 'cause he'd done the best he could. My papa was a great old man I can see him with a shovel in his hand Education that he never had But he did wonders when the times got bad The little money from the crops we raised Barely paid the bills we made Oh life whipped him Down to the ground When he tried to get up Life would kick him back down On the day papa called me To his dyin' bed Placed his hand on my shoulders And in tears he said Patches I'm depending on you, son To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you Two days later papa passed away And I became a man that day Everyday I had to work the fields 'Cause that's the only way We got our meals See, I was the oldest of the family And everybody was depending on me Now the years have passed And everybody's grown Mama's been livin' In a brand new home Lord knows it took A lot of sweat and tears And my daddy's voice To help us through the years He said - Patches I'm depending on you, son To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you (vamp) Daddy had been sick for a long time, flat on his back. Every evenin' after we'd finish our chores and eat our dinner, we'd all go into papa's room to cheer him up a little. And this particular day dad was in good spirits, sittin' on the side of the bed, tellin' mama how good she looked. When all of a sudden, papa had a pain in his chest. I was too young to understand, talkin' about a heart attack here. Mama rushed us all out of the room into the hallway. About ten minutes later she came out with tears in her eyes. She called out to me, "Patches, Patches, get in here, boy. Your daddy wanna see you." I went runnin' into papa's room, there papa lay. Daddy had tears in his eyes. I knew something was wrong, daddy was a poor man, but all of my life he'd been a proud man. I knelt down on one knee beside the bed, papa put his hand on my shoulder. He said, "Patches, Patches, boy, the hammer of life done beat your old papa down to the ground, and I ain't got nobody to turn to to take care of mama and the younger. So what I want you to do is promise me, son, is that you're gonna do your best to help your mama as much as you can." I said, "Papa, I'm gonna do my best." But little did I know then like I know now, that tryin' to climb life's mountains searchin' for a top where there ain't no top, sometimes you find yourself frustrated, crazy. But every time I feel like I can't live my life like I want to, my mind goes back to that day when I see those tears in my daddy's eyes. But most of all I remember his words, "Patches, I'm dependin' on you, boy." Every time I feel like givin' up, I hear his voice. "Patches, Patches, Patches, Patches -" I'm depending on you, son I've tried to do my best It's up to you to do the rest Patches I'm depending on you, son I've tried to do my best It's up to you to do the rest Patches I'm depending on you, son To pull the family through My son, it's all left up to you

I always will remember the gateway arch at the Jamboree from a Detroit Council Troop that announced to all the passers-by that "Antonio's Pizza salutes the BSA!" in a sweeping pizza studded arch. In smaller lettering it announced where they were from. I looked to see if the tents were similarly emblazoned, but they were plain REI tents, (with REI emblazoning). I think it was Antonio, might have been another name. Oh well.

Me: HS: Trombone, rank captain, drummajor. Band was 5 days aweek in school. Our director (Mr. Laakko, Finnish) played oboe in the National Symphony on occasion. We marched, did parades, football halftimes, bball pepband, assemblies, school concerts, he even had us do concerts at the Finnish embassy. It was academic credit and to my knowledge, was not adjusted out of our gpa. College: In my research, I found that if one wanted to play in the band, in MOST colleges, you had to be a music major. Let me out. I found a BIG school (Purdue) that had my subjects and (oh joy!) I could be in the band w/o being a music major. I got to the campus without knowing about the pre-semester band camp. I jumped in as a rookie trombone player (no competition unless you wanted to play in the concert groups). Again, it was part of the academic schedule, 5 days a week, we played, marched, halftime shows, parades, went places and did things. It was a cultural education, physical exercise, academic disciplne, social outlet, and fun. I knew I was never going to be good enough to be a pro, but I loved music, all kinds. Scouts did things differently, did different things. Camping and nature study ain't band. I knew I wasn't going to be a Park Naturalist but I still learned enough to see the connectedness of the world and be able to impart some of that to younger people. It all comes together. My HS Band: Troop bugler: Eagle: college band: trips: :: son likes music: guitar: trombone(too hard):Troop bugler: we'll see what happens next...

Camp ROOOOsevelt, yes, I remember. Summer camp, OA ordeal there. Sea nettles, mile swim in the bay,stteeep trails. Still have the stepstool I made and gave to mom. Didn't part of CR go to the Calvert Cliffs State Park? Or the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant? This was one of four NCAC camps ,as I recall, that they sold (1967?1969?) to buy Goshen. Wilson? Thunderbird? Roosevelt? And... skips my mind...I think our Troop visited all of them.

If the US had an all-inclusive protective tariff system, or "closed" it's borders to all imports, and depended only on stuff made within it's borders, what would happen? Except for rare earth elements that come from nowhere else but outside the US, could the various industries survive/exist on a self feeding economy? I think for the most part, it could. After all, what drove the overseas outsourcing? The desire to lower costs to increase profits. It has often been said that if the true cost of things was considered, the consumer society we live in would be a whole lot different. If it is CHEAPER to build a shirt/car/baseball glove/refrigerator/compass outside the US AND carry it here over several thousand miles (and cover the insurance losses when the ship sinks, etc.) than it is to build it here, and railroad it to the KMart center, what must be the result? The philosophy that drives the industries involved does not require them to insist that the out of country factories pay their workers a living wage or provide health care. Only to pay what the workers will accept. How did the union movement start? When the workers began to insist that they be paid a living wage and work in safe places, among other things. Hershey and Ford did well to realize that their workers needed to be able to afford the cars and candy they were making. Go to Scranton PA and see the exhibits about the coal mine workers that created the wealth of the 19th century. "Norma Rae" comes to mind. It is all tied together. It would be interesting to find out if BSA did any research to discover what sort of factories produce the uniform parts, or if they just asked, "make us 5,000 of these" and accepted what the wholesaler provided.

Indeed, thank you Terry. Yes, Norton was specific. The "danger" sites were listed. I took the specified site URLs and PMed them to Terry for consideration, knocking the dot for safety. The next day, this thread came up. 'Nuff said.

Scouter,com has discussed this before: http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=253281#id_253583 and http://mypack507.org/docs/Whittling%20Chip%20Requirements.pdf among lots of google things. Have fun be careful... KiSMiF

If you want to save the ribbons for history/acknowledgement/bragging rights/oo-aahing, you need to get them OFF the flag pole. It only makes the pole top heavy and hard for younger Scouts to carry with 40 years(!) of camporee ribbons tied 'round the finial, and they will only degrade and fade and fall off. And how can you read the record if it's 8 feet up and bunched up like that? Take them off, Leave the last two or three years worth on if you want. Take the ribbons, wipe them with a DRY cloth (dampness may run the old colors), iron them out flat on a COOL setting(rayon doesn't take kindly to a hot iron) face down (don't want to melt the colors), and press them between some cardboard until you can mount them permanently. If you are not "archival" concerned, get carpet double stick tape and the folding display boards from Office Depot or your local Dollar store. If you really want to go the preservation route, check with your local scrapbook person/store and get acid free tape and display board. Organize it by year, type, Scoutmaster, however you want. Write Scouts names alongside the appropriate ribbon, if anyone can remember...

:-})> Smiling man with mustache and goatee. ;-{) Smiling man, winking, with walrus mustache.

What you have is the history of a Scout. I see a pattern but it is missing one or two pieces. The patches do have an intrinsic value in dollars to collectors, they also have (had?) a value in history and nostalgia to the "neighbor". Perhaps he had no family to pass them on to. I have gone to conventions, Jamborees, and other Scout activities where an older Scouter, who made my acquantance, perhaps over hours or days or years, has asked if I would like to have "some of these old pins and things". I do not actively collect Scout memoribilia, but if it comes to me, I accept it in the spirit it was presented. I attended a three day long Scout conference out in Indiana once. Some of these folks I knew thru long distance correspondance and it was good to meet them in person. Some I had never met in any fashion. One of the outgoing officers of the group announced to the rest of us, "I have some things I'd like you folks to have" and proceeded to empty out on the table a box of pins, patches, neckers, commemorative woggles and hats. We all leaned back and collectively gasped. These dated back to the 1950 Valley Forge Jamboree and earlier. None of us quite knew how to react. He gestured and encouraged us to take what we "took a fancy to". I came away with a necker from the Idaho Jamboree and some other items. He was passing on his tradition to us. Most of my "stuff" is personal, earned or attended by me. I have some other "collector" stuff, and I respect the history and tradition it represents. They are artifacts. Kinda like my fathers westling award belt from high school or my uncles award for "aeroplane flight modeling". I value them, not for their collectability (Antigues Roadshow?) but for the connection they represent of ME NOW to THEM THEN. Perhaps the "neighbor" would like to come out and be an "uncle" to the Cubs of your Pack? Now there's a new POR...We had a fine old Scouter who was famous for inventing new craft items (clothes pin woggles? "rocket launchers" out of paper clips?)and was a regular at Roundtable, though his children were long , long time out of Scouting. Figure out a way to display them for your Cubs and learn what they represent. How did the "neighbor" come by them? Where did they come from? I don't think Taconic Scout District is in North Carolina! Can your Cubs see themselves "earning", collecting such over their Scout career? Can you use these found items to intrigue your Cubs? No, these are too valuable to use as "prizes". Wow, what a Cubmaster's minute.... or two.... Good luck and KiS MiF!(This message has been edited by SSScout)

SCOUTING: + Everyone can earn First Class, with or without help. And help will be there. SPORTS: - Not everyone will "make the team". SCOUTS: -/+ Outdoorsy program is not for everyone, but there are other ways to be a Scout. Sports: - You either play, or you don't. Team manager? Score keeper? Not the same thing. "I was an Eagle Scout" "I was a Bob Warner Football player" Compare? Granted, "Remember the Titans" is a good story, but the virtue/value of the coach was the source of the boy's growth, NOT the football sport.

Again go again do we. Leave the Church flag where it stands for services. Ask the Pastor, it will probably be next to the lectern/pulpit. On the RIGHT from the congregations view. Process the colors as you will, US flag on it's own right (audience left view). Take all the old ribbons off the Pack flag pole. Sort them out, by year, type, etc. Clean them up a little. Get a cardboard fold up display panel from Staples/Offfice Depot?CVS and a roll of double stick tape. Make a display of all the awards garnered by the Pack over the years. Show'em off at B&G, and various other times.

All good experience and ideas here. I will offer one bit that is somewhat relavant to car judging: I have a friend who is an antique car afficianando. He tells this story. He was at a car show and the judging for "Best of Show" came down to two Dusenburgs, virtually identical, he said. To break the tie, the judges drained some coolant from the radiators and measured the amount of RUST in each sample. The car with the least was declared winner. Least saw dust?

Scoutson went this past summer. Drove down with Troop group. The official Troop expense included two special tshirts and overnight stops at two campgrounds and a side trip coming back for a history lesson. Not quite two weeks, total. Beyond the pre trip expenses (new swimtrunks, sunglasses, sandals, etc.)Scoutson spent less than $100. more on lunches, souvenir patches and a pirate tshirt ("Stick to the Code: Trustworthy, Loyal, etc."). Mostly lunches, it seems. It is an expesive trip, no two ways about it, but he said he'd definitely go again if he could (mebbe with his Scoutson in more than a few years?).

Eisely: I presume you mean the little sheets of crinkly stuff that is supposed to make your clothes wrinkle free? Softner? Not cotton percale or polyester blend? What would they do? Keep the bugs away or attract them? Do they really work in your experience?

Okay, the previous thread implies a danger in kid's sports not inherent in Scouting. This led me to think about the pros and cons of each... Please add as things occur to you... SCOUTING: PRO: +get to work with like minded folks. + posssibly learn fair play, abiding by rules, ideals of good citizenship. +learn new skills and abilities (make a big list of MBs and rank requirements and such) + get to camp and hike in the outdoors, fresh air (coff, coff, campfire smoke) + wear neato uniform (alright, opinion here) + attitude of public toward Scouting is generally positive? CON: - Cost of uniform and equipment can be prohibitive. - Adult leaders may not be the best all the time. - Other kids/adults may not view your choice of activity as worthy (or they may be jealous). "peer preasure". - Time constraints. - possibly fall off cliffs, poison ivy, chillblains, blisters, sunstroke, possible child abuse (rare), various scrapes and bruises, get lost and be billed for rescue by helicopter... SPORTS: PRO: + physical exercise and skill gained. + chance of big money with the pros. (ha ha ha) + comraderee (?) with your buds, joy of victory. + neato uniform. + learn fairplay, abiding by rules. + learn to accept dissapointment. + leadership, cooperation, obedience practiced. + working toward a group goal. CON: - Cost of uniform and equipment can be prohibitive. - injury is very possible. - not abiding by rules is sometimes promoted over the other thing. - dissapointment is very possible. Not everyone wins. The agony of defeat.(maybe this is a pro?) - Time constraints. - the possibility that mom/dad are the ones that want Jr. to play when he'd rather not (see Scouting, too). Stress resulting. Just off the top of my uncombed head... Can you add?(This message has been edited by SSScout)

* Think about the stuff you and your family talk about, what is important to you at the time. * Divy up the Cub Promise and the Law of the Pack. Each section will lend itself to a little comment, a question for the boys to mull over ... "What does it mean to make a promise? Have you ever had someone not keep apromise they made to you?" that sort of thing. * Actively ask the boys a question and solicit an actual answer. This is a good campfire thing, walking around the campfire and seeking answers. Noone really expects a Cub Scout age boy to think deep thoughts, but they will surprise you, given a chance. * Remind them of some fun or activity they just had. Compare it to something else. You'll do fine. It's the desire that is often lacking, but you want to say something and therefore you will. If the pithy thing isn't there, then just say the Cub master's benediction and wish everyone a safe trip home. *

Found this on Scouting.org::: "SAT/ACT Software Available to Scouts" NFL and MLB players support eKnowledge donation of free SAT/ACT software to Boy Scouts of America families In alliance with the Boy Scouts of America, eKnowledge is offering SAT and ACT test prep programs valued at $200, free to Boy Scout families. The eKnowledge Sponsorship Alliance is made up of educationally focused foundations, as well as a group of professional athletes from the National Football League and Major League Baseball that includes Warrick Dunn and Chipper Jones. The eKnowledge Sponsorship Alliance has provided more than 120,000 SAT/ACT prep programs to families all over the United States. I believe in using my gifts and public image to help the community, said Chipper Jones, six-time All-Star and future Hall of Fame baseball player. Now in its fourth year, the eKnowledge Sponsorship Alliance has donated more than $26 million of SAT/ACT test preparation programs. In response to the donation, eKnowledge has received more than 40,000 thank-you letters from those who have benefited from the test preparation programs. The PowerPrep program helps prepare students to take the exams and increases student confidence, which can result in higher test scores and thousands of dollars in scholarships. EKnowledge recently announced the arrival of the new v6x SAT/ACT PowerPrep software; v6x was in development for more than two years at a cost of $1.5 million. It includes more than 20 hours of video instruction, 3,000 files of supplemental test prep material, thousands of interactive diagnostic tools, sample questions, practice tests, and graphic teaching illustrations. The new PowerPrep v6x software is Mac- and PC-compatible. Families interested in obtaining the FREE $200 v6x SAT/ACT PowerPrep Programs may order online at www.eknowledge.com/bsa or by calling 951-256-4076. There is a small "handling fee".

Just for fun... http://www.netwoods.com/cermonies/adltawds.html

There you go. Always important to define your terms. "Chinese Auction": Everyone buys a numbered ticket. You put your ticket (or ticketS) in a jar/box/bag in front of the item you desire. Buy 100 tickets, place as many as you want in whichever item's box you desire. At appropriate time, ONE ticket is drawn from each bag, and that ticket's number is announced and that person "wins" that item. This is clearly a raffle. Chance plays it's part, not everyone gets the item they want, and the only thing most folks leave with is a paper ticket. "Auction": Items are prresented to the crowd by the Auctioneer and folks can "bid", or say what they are willing to pay for that item. The highest bid "wins" the privilege of paying their bid as the price of the item. People go away with their bankroll intact or with the item(s) they have purchased. Value of the item determined ostensibly by the amount people are willing to pay for it, but they go away with something of "value" fo their money. "Silent Auction": SSSHHHHH!!!! Items are displayed and a signup sheet is attache to each. Folks pereambulate around and write their name and bid on each items sheet as to which items they would like to buy for what price. Each bid can be "upped" by the next bidder on the sheet (that's what we want!). During the bid time, entertainment is presented, food and drink is sold and bought, a good time is had by all (we hope). At the announced time, all bid sheets are collected, the high winning bids are announced, the proud "winning" bidders pay their price and go home with their items. This is NOT a raffle, as no chance is involve, and every successful bidder/buyer goes home with something of value, paid for at a price agreeable to both buyer and seller. At 4 H cake auctions, I have seen chocolate cakes bring a thousand dollars, cupcakes bring ten dollars each. It is all in the presentation and worthiness of the effort. As to the accumulation of the items for auction, that is another thing. Items might be services (catered dinner, rake your leaves), a trip (drive your kids to school for a week, ten days in the Bahamas) or a real thing (box of Cheerios, lawnmower, antique chair, homemade cake). But NOT a raffle.