SSScout

I forget. What do you call it when you pay for the privilege of holding a public office? Maybe we've hit on the way to pay off the National debt!

" Ah! A raisin! Yum yum..." (dead fly skit)

Congrats on your new Troop! Contact your Unit Commissioner (if you have one and know who), otherwise, contact your Dist. Exec. At the next (first?) Troop meeting, Have them come to say some "appropriate words" and present the flag, not yet on it's pole, to you, the SM (yes?), and the CChair and CO IHead. Next, the SPL and his PLs should come up and together tie the Troop flag to it's pole. If you feel like it, The first SM and SPL might sign and date the halyard edge of the flag. Forty three years later, when the Troop seeks to replace the old flag, they can see the date and signatures and s

Ideas I have seen used (or used ourselves) Food? Pot luck. Local VFD did a pancake supper for the Cub Pack. One year, Outback Steak House catered our B&G for $5. a person. Steak and salad and hot vegetable (!!!). And we divied up the left overs! Local Chicken Out or the Italian place down the block may do the same. Attached Scout Troop did a cookout for "it's" Cub Pack. Indoor picnic... Hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, etc. Places: Local hospital has "community rooms" for free. Local Volunteer Fire Dept. used their hall for free. Check any local church/

Once upon a time, a Scout Troop went winter camping with a Girl Scout Troop... snow on the ground, camp fire with CHESTNUT for fuel (does that date it for you?), and -- here's the good part-- the "traditional" division of labor. B's cleared the site, chopped wood, hauled water, and the G's cooked and both B's and G's cleaned up. Cocoa and skits in the evening. The G's brought all the food pre packaged. Lunch was "homemade" chicken/vegie soup, in reused (didn't know the term 'recycle' back then)milk cartons, froze solid. Peel back the milk cartons, soup blocks dropped in pans and boiled up.

Here's a challenge for you and your Scouts: How can you use your local library to help Scouting? Here's some ideas: =Source for advancement: Are there books about animal ID, tracking, camping, first aid, etc.? And for merit badge things... =One local Troop donated a complete set of Merit Badge Books to our local library. Good PR! The Librarian (Media Specialist) put'em out for a display. Much finger pointing ensued. =Encourage your Scouts to avail themselves of this resource for Citizenship MBs... =Books about BP? Scout stuff? Donate some Scout manuals for others to borrow. =

Donate a reprint to your local library. And while you're at it, research how your local library can serve Scouts. Come to think of it....

Now, granted, the requirements (as usual) do lend themselves to some interpretation, and we aren't supposed to ADD or SUBTRACT from the requirements, but I frankly have never heard of this one being "homework". Ideally, the Scout goes out in the woods with his leader and points or otherwise ID's the critter "in situ". Here's a gnawed acorn, that's a rabbit track, look! that's a white tail deer, listen to that blue jay, a crow, beaver chewed that tree, ants, cricket noise, fish fry in the stream, hawk (redtail? osprey?) over head, deer rub on the tree trunk, chickadeedeedee, mouse or vole

Go to your friendly neighborhood hardware store or tractor supply or John Deere dealer and get "old fashioned" no-batteries-required MERCURY or ALCOHOL (that's the red stuff in a tube) thermometer. And watch the red go DOOOWWNN when you take it out of your car!.

Sad to hear about the Scout who's leadership was put down by some uber urban Scout Leader. So how do we use Buffalo Chips any more? I'd like to start off here by listing some of the more unusual, "oh wow" fire starting techniques I've seen. (and used) * Homasote board, 3/4 thick, cut into 2x2" chunks, soaked in parafin/wax. Portable, burn for 30 minutes or more, start any wet wood. * Fritos... Some potatoe chips, some not. But regular Fritos. Even seen'em started with F&S!. * human hair (off mom's hair brush) and yeah, it does have an aroma. * Pocket Lint, mostly dry

Well, lemme think... Without the "Requirements" book in front of me, How 'bout Paul Bunyan, 50 Miler, Scout Band, "Triple Crown"... Oh, and check with your local Council, might be some purely local things. Here in Merlun, (local dialect), you can earn a special patch for traversing the C&O Canal. (This message has been edited by SSScout)

So howcum they only televised the oathing from the chest up? Did he have his fingers crossed??? Hah???? No pinky pull!! I double dog dare you to promise to protect that Constitution!! Hah!! Come on, fellas, the promise was said, the intention was honestly expressed, the man is our POTUS. Enough already. Wish him God speed and give him our counsel and support. Send him a birthday card.

Well, now, somewhere it is we are getting. Calico, you get the "atta" and Be, I give you the "boy". So, pickers of nit, Mr. O is either the 44th, or 45th, or 52nd or 56th POTUS. So be it. Recommend Howard Zinn, "A People's History of the United States".

* sigh* Yeah, so that's why the "father son" overnights are now called "Son and One" to INCLUDE those boys that must invite the Granddad or uncle or mom to come along. If there is no dad in the boy's life, (for what ever reason. Not our business), let's try and make sure we don't unconsciously UNinvite some Cubs by our naming of the event. "Dad and Lad" didn't work either. If, as has been suggested, GSUSA seems to view male adults as less desirable girl accompani-ists, then politely re-educate them, for the same reason. When I was granted sole custody of my 4 year old daughter a

Firstly, has anyone produced any "official" stuff to show Mr. Obama was born anywhere ELSE than Hawaii? Thot not. More examples: My most significant other was born in Galveston Texas. Family lost all paper records in one of their local hurricanes. Wife wants to apply for a passport. Email writes away to Texas Bureau of Records for a "copy" of her "Birth Cerificate". Gets back a computer printed page labeled "Record of Life Birth", signed and imprinted. Me, I have a paper before me (I want a passport too), Labeled "Birth Registration Notice" that pronounces that "a certificate of birth

...and who, exactly, was the first president of the United States? And what, if any, "oath or affirmation" did he give? A freely given "attaboy" for the histerically correct answer...

...but sit down with him and purposefully go thru the book with him and point out what he has accomplished and ask him how you and he can achieve the next few things on his way to the Bear rank? Make sure he is included in the advancement! Know what I mean?

Here we go... In the coming electronic age, where physical currency is eliminated, and all buying and selling is done electrically ( you ever see anyone in Startrek PAY for anything?), will the debit cards have "IGWT" on them?

Faith Merit Badge: (badge is a gold/silver/red flame on a light blue background) 1) Speak to a faith leader of your family's faith. Become knowledgeable about the beliefs and practice of your family's faith. 2) List for your Counselor at least 10 of the major named faiths of the world. Explain the major tenets of each. 3) Visit at least 6 houses of worship of faiths other than your own. Speak with the faith leaders at each. Learn something of their history and belief. Take notes. Discuss with your counselor how they are similar, one to another, in belief and practice, and how they ar

Reminders: The US Guvmnt does not REQUIRE it's citizenry to attend church/temple/mission/synagogue/mosque/meeting/discussion group. It does not COLLECT tax or tithe for financing any of the above institutions. It does not PUNISH it's citizenry or visitors (both invited and not) for NOT attending church/temple/missiion/synagogue/mosque/meeting/discussion group. The majority of our voting citizenry, thru their representatives, chose to present their belief that we try to trust in God (mebbe not always successfully.Another discussion another time), however anyone may or may not perc

Camp Cookery: Things to learn (and remember) from instruction and experience. Woodfires take more planning and time. Duty roster needs to be "fairly" assigned and rotated. Boys needing to pass requirements have priority in assignments and teaching (fire making, cooking).Wood and water tenders shold be reminded of the importance of their jobs. Not too many cooks. Cooks need to BOIL water first, for cooking, tea & coffee & cocoa AND WASHING. Put water on fire while prepping meal. Water will be hot when cleanup starts. Wood fire? Rub Soap on outside of pans. Easier cleanup. OU

Ditto all the previous comments on ownership, insurance, liability, maintenance, diminuation of parental involvment. ScoutLeaders need to always insist on not just 2deep adult leadership but 2deep vehicles too. We are encouraged to NOT travel 'in convoy' but it is real nice to have another Scout vehicle to call on in case of trouble. Cell phone exchange. "Be Prepared". Sickness, breakdown, accident, misplaced destinations(!). "Hey, didn't Tom leave the school before us?" Our Troop has a trailer (owned by CO) that is main storage for gear. When big events come up, (camporees, etc.) a suf

I found this little booklet under my erstwhile desk. I can't really say how I came by it. On the back it is labeled "United, Official Airline Sponsor of the US Olympic Team 2000." Pictures of various atheletes. Text::: "What Makes a Hero? "A hero acts because it is in their nature, not because they want or need anything in return. "A celebrity is someone you want to meet. A hero is someone you want to be like. "The media does not create a hero. Courage makes a hero. "Heroes are ordinary, everyday people. Yet, their actions are anything but." :::end te

Maybe the Russians will offer him a job driving their ekranoplanes!! Wow!

HWGA... Possible side threads (choose any that attract you): 1) The desire of the MAJORITY in a democracy to express a belief at the risk of insulting/offending a minority. 2) Requiring children to recite something that may or may not be in agreement with the parent's religious beliefs. (Q: Who would one expect NOT to recite the PoA?). Punishment? Teaching moment? 3) The tyranny of a minority opinion in controlling a philosophic situation if no "harm" is done. What really constitutes "harm"? 4) Perceived lack of patriotism/loyalty/rightness by someone who does not react "approp