SSScout

From "Matching Mountains with the Boy Scout Uniform" by Edward F. Reimer *1929* E.P. Dutton pg.93.... " The Boy Scout staff has a score of practical uses. When Sir Robert Baden-Powell designed his bronze 'Scout with Staff' he gave the staff the loftiest and most prominent place in the statue.' The next page pictures no fewer than 20 uses: Patrol flag pole, lashed together taller flag pole, uprights & ridgepoles, tripod clothes rack, tripod pritilatter (wash station?), tripod seat rack, bridge construction & brace, aid in jumping (pole vault over stream), blanket stretcher, splint, maintaining order at parades, mast for raft, marked to measure distance, marked to measure heights and distance (sighting), scaled to estimate weight (balance beam), pushing back brambles, poking holes, rack to keep things off ground, handle for camp broom, aid in climbing, aid in reaching across,etc. The next pages (Pg.94 to 96) detail the 'Manual of the Staff'. How to carry, march with, and 'exhibit' the Scout Staff. "By the Numbers" "FIRST: Fall In is executed with the staff at ORDER STAFF. Fall Out, Rest, and At Ease, are executed as without staves (( Ed: plural of staff!!)). On resuming Attention, the position of order staff is taken." To be precise, the Scout Staff seems to have held a larger place in the Scout World at one time. It is obvious that a bunch of standard size and marked staves (!) have a multitude of uses. Try http://sne.tripod.com/hikestaf.htm for more ideas.

Recent movie: "Hoot" (new line cinema) Bunch of kids work to save a colony of rare owls against a less than honest developer. Not so recent: Shown some years ago, shown on Hallmark: "Lone Star Kid" (Feature Films for Families) Young boy takes on complacency and becomes the first 11 year old mayor in the country (based on true story). Streets get paved! C in Community, not nation or world.

Close by (?25 miles?) is what in the old days would've been called an 'amusement park". On it's several acres are some of the usual whirly-gig rides in a permanent carny area, a merry-go-round, an indoor area of video games (the "violent" games are labeled as such)and psuedo gambling games (Cyclone, push the coin over the edge, aim a coin at the hole, etc. ), two laser tag rooms, skeeball, basketball throws, an electric shooting gallery, an outdoor paintball tented yard (they supply throw away overalls and fullface goggles), a kiddy roller coaster, a more "adult" rollercoaster, a pond boat bumper car thing (in which one can squirt water "cannons" at the boaters both from the shore and the boats), and other activities of varying worth and cost. This is not a real big place, not a Disneyland or King's Dominion. I know Scout groups go here on occasion. There is a single admission charge and then seperate, additional charges for some of the bigger activities. And lots of quarter tokens for the indoor games. Not only is the participation in Ltag and Pball an "image" issue, but one of expense and worth. I have watched Scouts and others wear themselves out playing Capture the Flag, Steal the Bacon, Manhunt and come away tired and smiling. I have also seen parents come away from the Amusementpark shaking their heads about the worth of the time their kids spent there. There was a teaching moment there, a discussion about hard earned bucks versus worth of activity. "Well, maybe once for the experience", is the comment I have heard. I will be at an IOLS in a couple weeks. I will be reminding new Scout leaders about our outdoor activities, the OUT in SCOUTING. Maybe we'll go camping or hiking or rock climbing or canoeing "once for the experience". I'm not saying the County Fair's carny or the Six Flags Over Someplace aren't fun things to do. Recreation and diversion is important. At the county fair a few years ago, I surprised myself (and the game operator too!) when I walked up to the "shoot out the star" game and on the first trial (100 BBs shots)won a 4 foot tall Winnie the Pooh for my son. Me, a Quaker. But I knew the secret to success at that game (researched carny games for a school essay), and had a pretty good eye back when. Wasn't so much a gamble in my case, and my son and I had a good conversation about games and guns and such as he struggled with the shapely bag of crushed foam rubber. But should such activities as Pball and Ltag be promoted as Scout activities? I say there are more Scoutworthy places to leave our money and time, more in keeping with our avowed values and purpose. One can always go as a private family or birthday party, but with the imprimatur of Scouting? ummmmmebbe not. My HO.

Seriously, now for your next LNT seminar, don't forget the "international best seller with over 1 million copies in print" How to **** in The Woods (2nd revised ed.) by Kathleen Myer 108 pgs. c.1989,1994 Ten Speed Press see also Deut. 23:12-13 Yep, auto censor. (This message has been edited by SSScout)

FDP? Chocolate Reddy Whip? Cheezewhiz? Alotta cocoa mix mixed thick? Mud? The real thing (shudder)? And how old were these alledged Scouts?

PLEASE make the distinction ::: Label and call it the "Tomahawk" throw, NOT axe or hatchet. Make sure folks know it ain't an "axe yard". Ditto all the guidance above. We have had Tomahawk throw range at camporees many times. But be careful where you site it, both for overthrows and side areas. You will have folks that will want to watch, and they must be kept at a distance, both for their own safety and for their distractive quality. AND... don't make the mistake that happened one year: The targets were sited up against a hillside, which seemed like a good idea (back stop, etc.) but the hillside was covered in blackberry brambles. A heckuva time recovering the overshots! We were given one piece, all-metal tomahawks by council for the purpose, really needed sharpening, but they threw well. An "Ax yard" is also a good demo. Totin chip demos, felling ax chop thru a log for time, mebbe a two man saw competition. Needs Good supervision, but good time to be had. (This message has been edited by SSScout)

I have seen the following in parades with CSs: A model B17 with a 8 foot wingspan, on its landing gear (handsome model!) pulled by the Cubs , waving American flags. Led by a Banner announcing "Pack XYZ salutes our Vets". Cub Pack dressed in card board railroad cars tied in a train behind a wagon built up to be a steam engine. Adults pulled the wagon/engine.(old timers parade). Cub pack riding on antique fire engine. Volunteer fire company was CO. Cub Pack pulling along each other in the "Cub Cars" they made. 2x4 frames, lawn mower wheels, rope, you know the type I mean. Each car had a sign attached that touted a point of the Law of the Pack. Have fun!

With God On Our Side Oh my name it is nothin' My age it means less The country I come from Is called the Midwest I's taught and brought up there The laws to abide And that land that I live in Has God on its side. Oh the history books tell it They tell it so well The cavalries charged The Indians fell The cavalries charged The Indians died Oh the country was young With God on its side. Oh the Spanish-American War had its day And the Civil War too Was soon laid away And the names of the heroes I's made to memorize With guns in their hands And God on their side. Oh the First World War, boys It closed out its fate The reason for fighting I never got straight But I learned to accept it Accept it with pride For you don't count the dead When God's on your side. When the Second World War Came to an end We forgave the Germans And we were friends Though they murdered six million In the ovens they fried The Germans now too Have God on their side. I've learned to hate Russians All through my whole life If another war starts It's them we must fight To hate them and fear them To run and to hide And accept it all bravely With God on my side. But now we got weapons Of the chemical dust If fire them we're forced to Then fire them we must One push of the button And a shot the world wide And you never ask questions When God's on your side. In a many dark hour I've been thinkin' about this That Jesus Christ Was betrayed by a kiss But I can't think for you You'll have to decide Whether Judas Iscariot Had God on his side. So now as I'm leavin' I'm weary as Hell The confusion I'm feelin' Ain't no tongue can tell The words fill my head And fall to the floor If God's on our side He'll stop the next war. ==Bob Dylan==

Been away at Camporee this weekend. Den Chief is a helper for any DL. The Adult Partner is to be there with their TC, but the TC DL can still make use of a good DC. What a good example for BOTH the Tc and their APs! Have the nascent DC take the online training ( www.olc.scouting.org ), AND the DL also should do it so they have some idea what the DC can do for them. Make sure the DC takes the in person training when it is offered (and encourage the District Training Committee to offer it) . Any Scout with the right attitude and spirit can be a good DC, from Scout to Eagle. Remind them that they are no longer FOLLOWING the example, they will BE the example. Good Scouting!

Halloween is coming up... Look up "The Cremation of Sam MaGee" By Robert Service Too long for here .(This message has been edited by SSScout)

*sigh* /headshakingslowly/ Mebbe someone's home sick from school?

It is, indeed, GSUSA rules being locally interpreted. Not unlike BSA perhaps? I have a good friend that is the Daisy leader for his daughter's Troop. It numbers 8 or 9, I believe.Beg pardon, they are Brownies this year. He (and the other parents) take'em on hikes and craft days and nature study. He is a Scout pro that travels training folks, but he is home for the GSusa stuff, for sure. He tells me no problems so far...

Parseltongue. See Harold Potter... Cobra Patrol, beware the mighty Rikki-Tikki-Tavi Patrol!

Receiving worth for your payment::: In re "Brewster's Millions", Richard Pryor.

He was a famous trumpet man from out chicago way. He had a boogie style that no one else could play. He was the top man at his craft, But then his number came up and he was gone with the draft. Hes in the army now. Hes blowin reveille. Hes the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B. They made him blow a bugle for his Uncle Sam. It really brought him down because he could not jam. The captain seemed to understand, Because the next day the cap went out and drafted the band. And now the company jumps when he plays reveille. Hes the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B. A root, a toot, a toodlie-a-da-toot. He blows it eight to the bar He cant blow a note unless a bass and guitar Is playin with him. And the company jumps when he plays reveille. Hes the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B. He was a boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B. And when he played his boogie woogie bugle He was busy as a busy bee. And when he played he made the company jump eight to the bar. Hes the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B. Andata toodliata-toodliata toot toot He blows it eight to the bar. He cant blow a note if a bass and guitar Isnt with him. And the company jumps when he plays reveille. Hes the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B. He puts the boys to sleep with boogie every night, And wakes em up the same way in the early bright. They clap their hands and stamp their feet, cause they know how it goes when someone gives him a beat. Woah, woah, he wakes em up when he plays reveille. Oh, the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B. A root, a toot, a toodli-a-da to toot toot toot Hes blowin eight to the bar. Yeah, he cant blow a note if a bass and guitar Isnt with him. And the company jumps when he plays reveille. Hes the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B!

Go to your neighborhood Scout store and ask for the "Bugle Calls/Voice of Lord Baden-Powell, Scouting Audio Classics" CD #AV-054cd. Forgot some things from my previous response: Wash out the bugle with a little warm water and detergent. You can buy a handy flexible cleaning tool that will help you ream out the gunk from the tubes. Makes it SMELL better and play better. More hygienic. Use RAGS not paper towel, because the PTs will shred and stay in the horn, complicating things. Dry completely. Rub a little vaseline on the tuning slide, keep it free sliding. In really cold weather, warmup the mouthpiece and hold it in your hand before playing, and in REALLY cold weather, vaseline on the mouthpiece. Otherwise, the poor forgetful player may end up frozen to the horn! Play, Don!

""Whut we have heah, is a laack, of communication."" Ditto all the above. Review the manual. Speak to the UC. Speak to the CC, WAY before the next meeting. If my prior history is any guide, she is probably sure that she is doing the right thing, in the right way, for the good of the organization. It is never a good thing to let bad feelings fester to the point of the group disbanding rather than (first gently, then more directly) telling the person HOW SHE MAKES YOU FEEL. And the possible result of the accumulation of those feelings." Dolores, when you say...... it makes me feel......." Be sensitive to her personal dynamics. Might be other things (family dynamics, health issues, unappreciative boss, lack of different training) make her do what she does well (plan, organize, delegate, followup,etc.) in such a poor way (micromanage, treat us like children, no appreciation,). Speak to the other committee people. Get them to speak directly to CC away from the meeting table, so the CC realizes that it ain't just YOU. Love of Scouting should be your motivation, not just your own hurt feelings. "It's for your kids". Speak to the CO and COR and IH, if possible. Invite and include. If they are a "stand off" CO, it ain't all their fault. They can be a help and be proud of their Scout Units. Make it a Win-Win situation for everyone. Then stand back and be glad you were the instigator rather than the "I wish someone would do something"-ator. Good Scouting to you!

By the way, what's the plural of Webelos? Webeloses? Webelos'? Webelos Scouts? Ooops, off topic. So when a Web "ages out" at the ripe old age of 5th grade or 10 and 1/2, should he be "crossed over" immediately? What's left? What other Cub worlds are there for him to conquer? Should the Pack just wave g'bye and g'luck? I would like to suggest that the wise Cub Master will see his Senior Webs as the older brothers of the Pack and put them to work as mentors (not DCs) and examples for emulation. Proper flag ceremonies, good uniforming, the very best skits, help with belt loop projects, and not just sign them off as lost to the world of Cub Scouting. Yes they have other apples to pick, they've seen the world of Boy Scouting and isn't that what the man said, that Cub Scouting was to prepare the boy for the real thing, Boy Scouting? But is the purpose of Cub Scouting merely to get the boy into BScouting ASAP just 'cause you can? What do you see from your side of the elephant?

"Lame Duck Webelos" . Now there's a topic for a thread...

That's "peckin" order, as in chickens. My mom's back porch was closed in, hence you could sit on the porch and look out the back door. Most critters dancing on a lawn would, by necessity, I would think,be happy, (by what means happiness attained, I know not nor care) (?happiness police?))) WJHS had a really rocky football field, hence known as the "cow pasture" 'round these parts. (Sherwood) "To Be or Not To Be" ==Shakespeare "Do or Do Not" == Yoda "To Do is To Be" ==Descarte "Do Be Do Be Do" ==Sinatra

Outdoor CoH: One of our Scouts opted for a camp for his Eagle CoH. We staged it at the Scout's Grandfather's farm, not too far away. Set up camp as usual, tents, activities for younger Scouts, etc. Later, Campfire, table, candles. Parents and Troop families brought their own camp chairs. All the usual speakers and charges and such. Full uniform for the participants. The Eagle Scout had all his buddies participate, many were already Eagle, been thru it all with the candidate. After the ceremony part, hotdogs and potluck potatoe salad etc. A very nice time. Dinner over, folks congratulated the new Eagle and went home. Scouts talked into the night over the campfire, "Lights Out" was forgotten that evening. Why not a Campfire CoH? Make it happen.

Lisabob has it right. At the Cub level, and even the Scout level come to think of it, the parents decide what constitutes religion for the boy. At least until the boy says different. My favorite story about earning religious awards be patient with me if you read the other thread): I met a Boy Scout at a formal event. He had THREE religious awards dangling. G&C, Ad Altare Dei, and Ner Tamid. I asked him how he had come to collect these three. He said his mom was Jewish, his dad Catholic and his Troop met at a Methodist church, so he thought why not be "fair to everyone". Evidently the religious authorities had no objection. "Reverence to God and reverence for one's neighbour and reverence for oneself as a servant of God, is the basis of every form of religion. The method of expression of reverence to God varies with every sect and denomination. What sect or denomination a boy belongs to depends, as a rule, on his parents' wishes. It is they who decide. It is our business to respect their wishes and to second their efforts to inculcate reverence, whatever form of religion the boy professes." == Robert Baden-Powell ==

"...fight and skirmish by the bugle,,," Yeah, I've known some buglers that might elicit that response Scouting loses a little of it's traditions each time we forget what we remember of our time as a Scout (? remember to forget? ah, you know what I mean). A half way good bugler can actually do a good turn by being available to outfits like the American Legion or Vets of Foriegn Wars. The DoD often has a hard time providing a human bugler for ceremonies and interments, hence the obiquious CD or tape player. Bugler, Play for me a simple melody: Won't you play some simple melody Like my mother sang to me One with a good old-fashioned harmony Play some simple melody Musical demon, set your honey a-dreamin', won't you play me some rag Just change that classical nag to some sweet beautiful drag If you will play from a copy of a tune that is choppy you'll get all my applause And that is simply because I wanna listen to rag {Verse 3A} Play for me That good old-fashioned harmony Oh, won't you play for me a simple melody Play from a copy of a tune that is choppy You'll get all of my applause because I wanna rag it Ragtime melody

The word is "discernment" One should always seek to discern God's will in one's life. Whether from prayer, or the counsel of a trusted advisor or reading (Bible, Koran, Torah, Lotus Sutra, etc.), or "looking for a SIGN" (?) Deciding (admitting? accepting?) God EXISTS is not the end of it. That is only a step up, not the platform where one sits, satisfied. Don't ever be totally satisfied. Keep looking. It ain't only the destination, it's also the trip. Thank you, Merlyn, for reminding us of that. Complacency is not sufficiency.

JB has the answer. When I am finished immolating ground bovine, I close all the vents on the grill/smoker and close the lid. About two hours later, the fire is smothered, the grill is cool. I usually let it sit on the patio anyway, but I check it before rolling it back to it's parking spot. At my convenience, I can scoop the used charcoal into the starter can (no fluid! only some dry newspaper!), add some new charcoal and start over! Never use water unless we're out in the woods, but there we usually let the fire burn itself out after lots of use.