SSScout

A corrolary to the 121 MB discussion is: Why only those 121? I have been told that Irving regularly culls those MBs that are less popular (?less than ten awarded in a given year?) and institutes new MBs, as tastes change and new skills and technologies evolve. Notably Computer Science, Composites, etc. But how 'bout Blacksmithing? Is that only to be included in Metalworking? Phillipine Scouts (according to my research) still awards a Blacksmithing badge. Could a Scout earn that? (by correspondance?) Even if a MB is "obsolete" it is never "eliminated" , according to one source. See http://scouters.us/mb.html If one could still earn the Rabbit Raising MB, how to obtain a badge to award? The above site notes that "theoretically", our over achiever Scout might earn as many as 239 MBs! Think of the possibilities! What "old" MBs would you like to see available, again?

Let's see now... 121 MB, divided by 3, that's 41 rows. Allow 2" per row, that's, umm, 82 ". One long, drag-on-the-ground sash. Or two sashes. Custom make a four across sash, that's 31 rows, 62" long, not including the pointy bottom and shoulder curve. I hope our over acheiver Scout is tall.

Planting a tree as a remembrance or memorial is an excellent thing. I've seen and participated in such several times, most recently in memory of one of our Troop's adult leaders. I too think $1500 is a mite rich for a stripling tree. The plum we planted was about $85 , 3 years old. We added a small plaque in concrete block and a teak and wought iron bench for another $250. All installation was volunteer. This was not a Scout project, purse, but involved many folks who had known the Scout leader, and our Meeting. I guess the ERI is trying to promote a fund raising for themselves and suggest a Scout project. Obviously, if it becomes a 100th BSA Anniversary thing, it cannot be an "Eagle" project. Planting such a tree could be part of another, larger memorial. But I would buy the tree outright and forgo the broohaha brochures. Plan your own, as appropriate.

Once upon a time, I went camping with some friends. We decided we needed to go someplace new, someplace none of us had ever been before, but that was not too challenging. We figured 6 ,7 miles in, about the same out might be about right. One of us picked up "Guide to Trails in the Otter Creek Wilderness". Well, that was a place we all knew by reputation, but, strangely enough, altho we were all experienced hiker/campers (ex Scouts, AYH tour leaders), had never been to. Decided. OK, He plans the meals, he picks up the food and supplies, she borrows the tents, he plans the route. I ended up being one of the drivers. So we set out. Leave one car at the end of the chosen trail, drive everyone to the beginning. Shuttle set up! Guide is quite specific, names sites along the way, old farmsteads, rock formations, etc. The fellow who had studied the guide, and had previously navigated us to the trailhead and trailend leads off. Nice trail. Pretty scenery. Pleasent company. Guide says a ruin should be about... here. Where is it? Ummm. Oh, here it is, further on. But we already passed that old orchard. And the quartz outcrop, too far along... Well, it turned out that our "navigator" had us on the right trail, but was reading the directions BACKWARD from our walking direction. A memorable trip, none the less.

The amount is not "insignificant", niether is the "principle" involved. Here in the Old Line State, the sales tax is 6%, that's $3.00 on a $50. purchase. Three burgers at the King. Pursue it.

A better question: When was Bugler not considered a PoR appropriate for any rank? I've known active Buglers and really inactive Chaplain Assistants, and Troop Librarians who were all considered good to go for rank. I thought all listed PoR (possible exception: Assistant Patrol Leader) were appropriate. Is there a master list or something?

In your conversation with CSE, might point out the extra expense accrued by the action of the reimbursing staff: * time spent with unhappy volunteer. * Loss of FoS or other contribution. * Extra postage, paper, check printing, bookkeeping, etc. when CSE orders apology letter and new check and policy standard written and adopted and ordered. * Has this happened before? How many other unspoken unhappy unsatisfied Scouters are there out there? * Was the missing tax payment really absorbed by the Council coffers? I remember a movie (Richard Pryor?) about a creative accountant who ammasses a fair amount by skimming off the fractions of a penny in multiple insurance payments where the payment is calculated as, frinstance, $432.678. He skimmed off the $.008. * General frustration, in that front line Scouter has not been supported by the Council office in the way he expected and had been supported in the past. Please follow it thru, for all of us.

Whoa ther, big fella... slow down, calm yourself.... "...is old the size" ? Very nice... Quantity discounts, perhaps? Outfit the whole Troop?

In as much as God is "all purpose", here is our "all purpose" grace/blessing/prayer.... Dear Lord, we are about to go canoeing/have another busy day at CSDC/begin hiking/rock climbing/white water rafting. In a short while, we will be very busy. Please forgive us if we should forget about you. Please do not forget about us. Amen.

NB::: Make sure everything is installed right side up.

Almost there... Little Bennett Regional Park, Clarksburg , MD (Quote from the website)http://www.montgomeryparks.org/enterprise/park_facilities/little_bennett/little_bennett_campground.shtm#camper_ready Camper Ready Camping Come enjoy the great outdoors without making a huge investment in gear! If you're thinking about camping, but don't want to make the investment in equipment to try it, then we have just what you need. Camper Ready Equipment is now available at Little Bennett Campground. For $25 per night (two night minimum) plus the site fee, your campsite will come pre-set with a four-person tent, two camp chairs, a propane stove, and a lantern. Bring your own bedding, cooking gear, and food supplies, and your campsite will be waiting for you to enjoy sleeping under the stars. One week advance notice is required. Call 301-528-3430 for more information. Bring it on, Big Agnes....

Creative, very creative. And probably wrong headed. Spouse accountant sez, in our state, at least, sales tax exception (note the term) must be claimed at the point of sale, not after the fact at the end of the year. If Council wished to claim it's non-profit tax exception status, you should have been given a copy of the appropriate certificate to show at the point of sale. Accountant spouse sez (opinion!) you are within your rights to NOT pay a contribution not of your choice. Mebbe a call to the Council Scout Executive is in order. In our Council, I have had reimbursments put off for MONTHS on occasion, due to changes in staff, end of fiscal year troubles, or paperwork snafus, but never as an "assumed" contribution. You might tell them that if it was a contribution to Scouting's worthy cause, there would have been no claim for reimbursement, at which point you would have asked for an acknowledgement for your tax return FOR THE FULL AMOUNT. Have you cashed the check yet?

Never hurts to try. Libraries are an untried resource for Scouts. For rank advancenment research. For community outreach. Check with the Media Specialist (old title: Librarian) and see if the Cub Pack could sponsor a Pinewood Derby in the library lobby. Troop set up a demo campsite on the front lawn. Venturers sponsor a high adventure expo: Rock climbing demo, wwrafting, etc. Service projects. Eagle and other... Sure, offer to donate some books: a HB, a FB, set of MBbooks. Maybe a reprint of BP's stuff, or his biography. Even if Boys' Life is not the most popular mag on the rack, it won't be there to consider if someone doesn't donate the subsription. Does your Troop or Pack have a better idea to use Book? Make sure a small but tasteful plate is in the cover reading "donated by Troop XYZ, ABC Chuch, ph: 222.333.4444". Our library sets up "special" tables, featuring books by a particular author or subject. Why not Scouting? Library = Boring? Sez who...

So, ASM59, as they say in Louisiana... How's by you? Did your Council receive your adult application accompanied by a $ten check? Even if your DE is ADHD and misplaces stuff, the Council office should be able to affirm/deny your application arrival and you should know if the check gets cashed. Then, you say you attended the Commish Training, so you have a graduation card, yes? Council should have a copy of that. If not, you can send them a copy With all those chickens lined up, you can approach the District Commish and say "here I am, ready to go." Ask to attend the Commish comittee meeting. If you personally know of some needy unit(s), I see no reason why, with your credentials in order, you could not approach the DC and ask to be assigned, officially, to that (those) unit(s). So, How'sbayou?

Yep, our Troop sells Franklins... A Wreatha Franklin... Oops...

Sell Crawford Texas to the Saudis.

High demand... Wiemar Republic.

"...24/7 flags..." McDonald's roofs, Checker's, etc. Hi Hal...

Plastic coated clothes line I say no. Too stff and unyeilding. Wire line, definitely no-no. The preferred is the cotton wrapped braided stuff. Think unseeing personages from Venice. Next, the 2 inch hemp anchor hawser. (see SeaScout Manual for splicing instructions). Just kidding....

Go to your local hardware store or home depott, mention Cub Scouts and watch the price drop... Any 1/4 to 1/2 inch, braided, cotton wound rope. Think big venetion blind cord. For Cubs, the twisted strand rope, unless it is old and "worked" so as to be pliable, will be hard to manipulate. NOT nylon or poly rope, the knots will slip and be frustrating. If you have a bigger caliber (diameter ) cord, you can do knot tying relays, rope rings, and the boys can pull on it without fear of failure or not being able to untie it. Heard of the "Tug o' Peace"? Pound two nails about 4 feet apart into your deck railing, coil the rope around them as many times as necessary, cut the cords at the nails. (my son liked to WHACK with a sharp hatchet, all at once) Don't forget to "Whip" the ends with masking tape or friction tape (also called tar tape). Duct tape will do, but pulls off leaving a sticky residue. Stretch the ropes next to each other out on the driveway or someplace you don't mind getting messy (hold'em down with old bricks), spray paint one end, about a foot long, a contrasting color (black? blue? red?). One end is already white, yes? Let it dry, roll over and spray both sides of the same end. *ahem* Okay, we have imported at no great expense, the RARE, double ended, bi-color rope from the Peruvian Andes, these are freshly picked. You know, not every rope has two ends! And these are the very best of the latest crop! They get darker with age... Ya take the RED end in your RIGHT hand.... your OTHER right, son,... Sorry, but to tie an easy successful bowline, you need 3 to 4 foot of rope. To demonstrate a one handed bowline (wow factor) around a waist, you need about 5 feet. ("help, help, oh help. pull me up, oh help...) After they have mastered (!) the square knot, get'em in a circle with their ropes, have them tie them all end to end in a circle and pull/push to see who has the strongest side? Your next decision is whether the Cubs get to KEEP their practice ropes. We taught with the 4foot 1/2 inch rope, then later, taught a "rattail" knot with about 15 inches of 1/4 inch cord on a mini carabiner that they took home. Just like the big one the Cubmaster had hanging on his belt, for "emergencies".(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Chicago Area Council Owasippee

* "Leaflets three, let it be" refers to what? * In folding an American flag, you seek to finally make a: a) rectangular shape b) square c) triangle * The highest rank a Boy Scout can earn is: a) Silver Wolf b) Eagle c) Gold Award * True or false:::To join the Boy Scouts, a boy MUST be a Christian. * What is the youngest Cub Scout called in America? Australia? Great Britain?

Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts? How silly can we get here? Skills? Scout oriented? Can you direct things in a requirement direction too? Balance beams (2x4s on edge )"over the Niagara Falls!!!". Baseball throw to knock down small "tents". Get a Troop to set up a rope bridge... "Crocadile infested Amazon" Whipped cream or shaving cream pie throws (what or who is the target?) Guess weight? Guess hieght? Check with Council about tomahawk throw equipment and requirements (site, and older boys... Scouts only) Archery possible (site and personnel requirements...see tomahawk above) ? Rope walk between trees, tied 6" above ground, higher rope to hold on to. Animal judging, (guess who the animals are? use imagination) KISMIF

From the Uniform Inspection Guide #34283: "Merit Badge Sash... If worn, Merit Badges are attached to the front (and back, if needed) of sash. Venture/Varsity letter is attached at bottom front corner. Temporary insignia may be worn on back." and from the Insignia Guide # 33066 pg. 4, "Members may wear only temporary patches (no badges of rank) on the back of the the merit badge sash." So, then we have to define "temporary insignia". From the "Insignia Guide", #33066: Pg. 4, "... are issued for such events as summer camp, camporees, and Scouting shows... "yadda yadda. Taken to the bottom line, common denominator, we have the idea that things you EARN (rank, privilege, certification) or are DESIGNATED AS (office, POR) are NOT to be worn on the MB sash. Things that you have PARTICIPATED IN (camporees, Scout camps, Jamborees, banquets, ) may be worn on the back of the MBsash. YES: Camporee, Jamboree, Philmont, Seabase, recognition Dinner, NOAC, NO: Past ranks, Patrol Leader, NESA, Fifty Miler, Life Guard, Cub Scout Stuff, Mile Swim. GREY AREA: Book says yes to Totin Chip, Firemans Chit, but these are earned, yes? But, again, I've seen few back of the sash displays. Only MBs on front. And V/Vs on bottom corner (rare!). Back of the shirt is next... Down side of trousers....

One of the hats I wear is UC. I came by that when I couldn't fit my WB tickets into a "Boy Scout" area (I was/am ASM, and one's WB tickets must be "from" one's registered area), so at my WB trainers' suggestion, I became a UC, which can dip into CScouts and BScouts and VScouts. I filled out the Adult Scouter Application, marked "UC" on it, paid my $ten, turned it in to the Council office, and took the Commissioner Basic Training, which happy coincidence was scheduled for the next month. I then turned up at the next District Commissioner Committee meeting (Council office told me), "surrendered " to the District Commissioner. He was surprised to meet me, hadn't been "done" that way before, but ok, always room for one more. As it turned out, my WB projects involved several units, so I nominated myself (with the DE's blessing) six units to UC for. Again, happy coincidence, those six had no official active UC, so the DC said ok. Now, I can't say that I am the perfect UC, but in that bailiwick, for those six, I am the only game in town. Do I meet the UC recommendation of a visit a month? Well, not a physical visit, but counting email and phone calls, I probably do. I agree with Scoutnut. Make yourself known. Work in any capacity in the District: Cub Daycamp, Camporees, training sessions (Basic, Leader Specific, IOLS, where ever), round tables, service projects. Call the leader of THAT activity. If you come up with Scout activities that would be attractive to multi Units (museum overnights, park projects, etc.) propose them to your District officers and write them up for your District newsletter. You will find outlet for your talents and leadings. Put more nails in your closet door for the extra hats.