SSScout

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.

Definitely repair. The tubing joints can be trued and resealed, lead can be used but silver solder is preferable. The tubes are much thinner than plumbing pipe, so if you attempt it yourself, go slow and do not heat too long. Or take it to the music repair shop. The dents should not make much difference in the tone unless they really diminish the tubing diameter. As a Scout, I inherited my uncle's bugle, circa 1920. It had a lot of "character". I already played the trombone in the school band, so the bugle for me was fairly easy. Taking my band directors advice, I replaced the original mouthpiece with a silver trumpet mouthpiece. Much easier on the lip, and THAT made a difference in the tone. As an adult now, I decided that there was something missing in the camporees and such I attended. Pulled out the bugle. Took it to the music store and asked about rehabbing it. I saw new bugles (bright and shiny!) were $70 to $180, and the quality difference in price was evident. They were made in... china. So the family connection won out. Solder joints, dents removed, "bore out" and trued. I think it sounded better for the work. I opted not to have it polished, keeping the antique patina. They lacquered it to prevent any further corrosion. I practiced, got my lip back, and sounded at camporees and a few special events. Scouts came up to ask about it. Merit Badge counselor. I must say that watching TV had some to do with my becoming a bugler. There were two shows in particular. "Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion" (Buster Crabb!) opened with the French equivalent of the Call to the Colors and closed with the Tatoo. I learned both. "Boots and Saddles" storied the US Cavalry of the old west. The Boots and Saddles (get to your mounts) call almost always opened that show. Learned that one too. Even a 7 note instrument can be very musical. The Tatoo is a piece that is specific to each country, but is very similar in the American, British and French. It is intended to remind folks to wind up the days activities before Lights Out, maybe 15 minutes before Taps. Played well, it is very evocative and mellow; a good introduction to Taps. Play AWAY from camp to mellow the tone and gain the echo effect, if possible. Repair the bugle. No music store would EVER laugh at the thought of bringing an old instrument back to a useful life. A good bugler is only an asset to a camp or special activity. Troops only have a bugler if a Scout comes forward and "does his best" to produce the quality sound. The sound of a bugle, at night, from out of the trees behind a campfire.... yes I remember that.... If the Camp schedule LISTs the time and event in bugle call terms (Leader call...mess call...assembly at flag pole...church call...), and IF the camp leadership notes the bugle as the means of noting the time... the boys will learn to recognize them.("? What's that? Oh, it's 9:00, must be time for ...). Consistancy! Boogy Woogy Bugle Boy of Company B????

Are you implying that us Scouters can't stay on topic? Why that's just... Oh look, is that a Red Tail Hawk? ADHD has not definitely been tied to either cultural or biological/hereditary sources, so ya'll are on your own. Howbout that Walt Johnson, uh?

Try this one: http://www.railsusa.com/links/Model_Railroad_Clubs/

Tiger Cubs...um..um..mmmmm.... Do a little research and find the local model railroad club. Take the Cubs to see the layout operate and stand back! www.modelrailroads.net KiS MiF YiS

Lessee now... the flag patch comes already attached to the right sleeve, facing correctly if we think of the sleeve as a wall. If we think of the sleeve as a ships mast, the wind blowing the shirt forward can be thought of as blowing the flag that way, too. A parade audience will see the flag on the sleeve passing as if it is on a moving wall. I've never heard the "blue canton/field closest to the heart" thing except when the flag ( a REAL flag) is draped over a casket. Blue canton is over the head and left shoulder. Now, if the present flag patch were worn on the LEFT sleeve, it would also be correctly displayed as being on a wall. We could sew it on VERTICALLY, but then the blue canton would have to be on the flag's own right (left as it is viewed by an audience), wouldn't it? Howbout that Earl Battey, uh?

If he is a "leader" in the unit and the boys and parents know him, but he doesn't wish to be acknowledged for what he has done behind the scene, so to speak, then recognize him for what he has done in front of the scene. Call him up at the next Court of Honor, give him a Scout Law coin, shake his hand and thank him for his loyal service to the youth of America. Make no mention of anything else, only what folks are aware of. If, on the other hand, his efforts are mostly behind the scenes, and most (if not all) of the Scouts and parents wouldn't know him if they bumped him in the supermarket, then admire him for upholding the OA principles, and then take him to Dunkin' D's and hand him a half dozen choco glazed, a Scout Law coin, shake his hand and thank him sincerely for his service to the youth of America. Don't forget the letter thanking him for his donation (tax time!).Then sit down with him and let him tell you about the time he and his buddies...

I have to agree that calling individual Scouts (Cub or Boy) should not be a UC's job. The UC should deal with the leadership of the Unit, listen to them, encourage them, survey them, instruct them. If the Unit leader wants help in how to approach "lost boys" (Peter Pan?), then I'd be glad to help. First, I take the list of LBs and go with it to the Unit CC or CM or SM and start the conversation there. Unless the UC has been asked to assist with boy leader training or is promoting a program to the Unit (at a meeting, yes?), or is dealing with some really bizarre situation, the UC has no reason to initiate a call to a child outside of his own family or Unit. Sounds almost like a lead in to a FoS "cold call". (shudder)

Eyup, some folks just have too much time on their hands. Idle keyboards are the devil's programming tool, or something like that. I would like to think that rules and laws are promulgated because not everyone knows what might be appropriate (and safe?) in a given situation. They are at least a starting point,One knows what has been a good idea in the past, what wiser, more experienced hands have seen be a good, safe procedure in the past. What the boss wants, expects. But if the 'on the ground' situation doesn't match the situation for the rule/law, well, common sense (never very common, as my dad use to say) and experience must hold sway. When I teach Woods Tools in IOLS, I try to CAREFULLY demonstrate some of the unfortunate things that can happen (and have, in my experience) and discuss why the rules/guidelines are there. My hope is that the Scouters listening and watching will gain from MY experience and go off to let their Scouts gain from THEIR third hand gained experience. The Safe Swim Program is excellent, but even that must be adapted to the given situation. It makes the Scout/er think about what could/might/shouldn't happen. One takes precautions. No rule book can possibly cover every possible situation (but glance thru the Golf PGA book sometime, and one might think so). Good judgement must be used. Before I retired from my Transit job, I risked being fired more than once, I know, because I HAD to utilize my own judgement in dealing with a strange, totally unfamiliar situation. If it turned out good, I got an attaboy (maybe). If not, and there was no policy or rule to point to as my inspiration for how I responded, I might be hung out to dry.. Sometimes, I can say, my response became the rule, for the NEXT time that happened, if ever. But the rule must be a starting point in our planning and dealing with things, if only for consistancy and predictability. So BW is right, as far as he goes, and Beavah et al are right, too. And sometimes the Higher Authority must be followed and the possible consequences weighed. Now, Hank Aaron....

Ummmmmmm?

Mebbe BSA should give us a choice of color, like the Model T: Black... Goes with everything! "Black socks, they never get dirty the longer you wear em the stronger they get Sometimes I think I should wash'em but something keeps telling me Oh no not yet ... not yet...not yet"

I have been surprised more than once at how GS is operated. We once were planning a JS night at the elemantary school. We contacted and invited the local GS Troops (two in the school) and both of them told us they were not interested in participating, they "didn't want any more GSs." We thought that was a bit bizarre, but that's what they said.

**sigh** I am reminded of a couple of things (being a student of the media world): Steve Martin suggests that if one is brought up before the court on a charge of murder, all one need do is tell the judge "I forgot" and you'll be let off, because all judges are forgiving, good folks. Everybody forgets stuff, right? Woody Allen did a movie, "Sleeper" where the government is doing it's best to protect the populace against all threats of injury. Big puffy clothing (no bumps), only absolutely healthy food, etc. To disobey the rules is to chance hurt or injury and therefore is against the rules. If it could hurt you, even if it is not againt the rules, it is against the rules. It is against the rules to exceed the posted speed limit. The PSL is there to help drivers drive safely. In our area, the government has installed videographic equipment that will, if you are exceeding the PSL as you pass, record your cars image, calculate the cars speed and send you (the cars owner) a speeding ticket. No appeal. If I CHOOSE to violate a clearly pronounced rule (hence training and signs and counselors and police), then I must be prepared to acccept the consequences of that violation. Those consequences may be monetary, societal, physical, consciencial, or spiritual. And I may decide that in the balance of consequence versus action (or lack of), it may be worth it. Now, ignorance of the rule may be a forgivable offense, but that should not be confused with conscious choice. Intent should always be considered. Refusing to give up a bus seat, not turning in a religious fugitive to the erstwhile authorities, refusing military induction on CO grounds, blocking a road to bring attention to a bad developement plan; such things shouldn't be compared to wearing the Patrol patch on the wrong sleeve or closely following a Scout leader's car to the camp ground. And if a SM promised to go camping on a given day only to find the death of his father impinging on those plans, I would hope the rest of the campers would find it in their hearts the means to forgive the SM his broken promise. A Scout is Loyal and Courteous and Kind. YiS

1) Use the Tour Permit process to help you plan the trip in a disciplined way. Make sure of insurance coverage, valid drivers licenses, number of seat belts, cargo capacities, etc. 2) Trip coordinator arranges that every driver has a map and a cell phone exchange list. Who pulls the Troop trailer, if appropriate. 3) Two possibilities: Meet at the church (frinstance) and load cars and leave from there more or less together OR leave from home and make personal arrangements about who rides with who. Our Troop does both, depending on the trip. If the trip is long enough... 4) A lunch/dinner rendezvous is arranged. No one is ever encouraged to follow or keep up or travel together. Too many problems with trying to keep a "convoy" together. 5) Schedules are made as realistic as possible. Speed limits are taken into account. 6) If someone doesn't show up, at either end, phone calls are made. It is understood that our Scouts' wellfare is the first concern and if someone is real late or never left, it is understood why the interest in where they are. 7) If someone leaves early from an event, it is expected that the trip coordinator is advised. Only natural. 8) Expense sharing ( gas money) is a seperate issue. Hope our experience is good for you.

I think the problem is us Scout leaders just don't understand and aren't sympathetic to the time limitations of the rest of the world. To that need for understanding, I would recommend we busy multitasking Scouters immediately start doing the followng: 1) Cut our lawns at least twice a week, completely, so it is microscpically neat and even. 2) Prune all our hedges and shrubs twice a month (see #1). 2a) Edge all our walks and driveway curbs. 3) Attend all the school dances, stage shows, sport games and concerts. 4) Make sure our children have at least 4 other clubs/sport teams/church youth groups/etc. to attend. 5) Wash all our house windows 4 times a year. 6) Aseptically clean our kitchen and dining room everyday. 7) Pick up all our childrens' toys, books, clothes for them so they will not feel unloved. 8) Cook all family meals from scratch, using all organic, raw food. 8a) Plant a veggie garden and tend it to county fair blue ribbon status. 8b) Can and preserve all the produce that comes out of it. 9) Join at least two service clubs and attend all meetings so as to (a) set a good example to our children and (b) "give back to the community" and © find that social outlet we are missing in our lives. 10) Rent/buy/library borrow some good DVDs to help our kids watch "quality" tv.At home. Together. 11) Take many, long vacations with the family, because family time is important. 12) Vaccuum/sweep the floors every day. 13) Remind yourself that Scouting is for the kids and not really for the parents, and I don't really know what to do there anyway. 14) Work two jobs to help support the family, 'cause that's what a man does. 15) Scrub the driveway to make it clan enough for the car parked on it, which you should... 16) Wash car once a week. Wash the OTHER car once a week. Wash the OTHER other car... 17) Oh, and don't forget to take the boy to the Scout meeting. They'll do the right thing by him, I know. They don't really need me to get in the way... ...probably left out some items. I apologize for that. I bet I still wouldn't understand...

Hokay, enough politicosexireligiosity... Let's talk about stuff that's REALLY important. Camping gear! The Troop of my youth made stuff. We were famous for an ultralight tent: Use 6mil black plastic. It comes in 10' wide rolls, so we made 10'x10' tarps and occassionally an experimental "Baker" type tent. But we found the tarp to be emminently adaptable. I guess the only drawback is there is no 'skeeter netting included. You need someone's rec room floor, swept and vacuumed clean. Take off your shoes. Stretch out the 6mil plastic and cut NEATLY using a straight edge and a long board to protect the floor. Carefully reinforce the edges with duct tape (two inch wide on BOTH sides of the plastic), put an "X" of duct tape, 1'x1' along a diagonal about 2' from a corner. Set grommets in each corner (4) and evenly along each side (3x4=12). Set a grommet in the "X" of the diagonal duct tape. This serves as a tent pole point for the "Explorer" set up. Use this tarp in pairs for dining flies, singly as a backpack tent. If you step on it, it gets holes in it. The black is more UV stable than clear and will last longer. If you camp often, treated gently, it will last one or two seasons. When the grommets pull out, use it as a ground cloth. Tradition has it that this idea came home with Scouts from Philmont. Any more DYS stuff out there? Maybe the 'blue' tarps are cheaper yet.