SSScout

Yep, sometimes we do it right.

http://www.gazette.net/stories/051408/olnenew101118_32359.shtml

Just because two dozen guys and gals with pnuemohammers and 2x4s and bags of concrete and asphalt shingles and pvc and copper pipe and sheetrock and BX and ROMEX cable trying to follow white on blue paper plans that were drawn up by another half dozen guys and gals build my house doesn't mean I can't say I just built my house.

Evolution is more about how it got dun not what or who dun it. Seperate issue.

"The giraffe is a horse designed by a committee".

!!!

Boy registers as a new Scout. On the application is a section for Shirt size, Pant size, Belt size, Hat size, sock size. Application comes with Pack/Troop/Crew number and Community and Council already imprinted. Boy and parents include $150. registration/dues.

In 3 weeks, Boy receives Official Boy Scouts of America© uniform, delivered by an uniformed official of the US Government. Shirt is already "Embroidered" with the "Boy Scouts of America" strip over the pocket, the appropriate Troop Number, Community name, Council ID on the sleeve, and World Brotherhood patch INTO THE SHIRT. Zip off pants included, 2 pair green socks included, ready to go...

Or, include the appropriate strips and such with Badge Magic included...

What?

emb021: Thanks...

I knew the strip history was more complicated, I just simplified it from my own fuzzy memory. As a boy, my Troop resisted the elimination of the "Community / Town" strips, the Troop ordered a special combo town/state/numeral patch for awhile. I thought they made eminently good sense at the time, and the Council patch fit over it easily. Many moon later, when I came back to the Troop as a Dad, the Troop was back in the main groove with CSP and Troop numeral.

So we progress.

And what, more than $100. to get outfitted with the new up-to-date stuff?

First there were Troop Numerals, White on Red.

Then, Add "Town" and "State" strips above the numerals.

Add a "Council" Strip above the "Town"

Then the PTB eliminated the "Town" and "State" strips and made the "Council" strip real pretty and prominent. ("Council" and Troop numerals")

Now the PTB make the "Council" strip less prominent and the Troop numerals less visible (subdued, I think, is the term?).

Is the final object to be a "Scout" but not a Scout from East South Jersy Troop #100 ?

Are Merit Badges being "subdued" too, or is some color being retained?

Sleeve pocket can be razored off carefully, POR sewed over the space.

I like the sleeve tabs for the long sleeve shirt. Bosom pockets do not look very "practical" to me. Size for notebook? Unsewed on badges? Pen slot? Velcro closing gets dirty easily with lint, hair, etc. and then doesn't hold tight. 'Course, I bet buttons are more expensive to sew on and think of the button holes.

Oh! where do we put our Totin' Chip? OA flap? I bet the bosom pockets aren't proportioned for that...

Is the ball cap a "headhugger" or does it have some "crown" for fit and ventilation? I find the HH type blows off real easy.

""One size fits some""

>>Pinewood derby set up at: *PTA Back to School picnic

*Public Library *ask District and Council for County Fair set up. They might already have such. Make sure you bring extra cars for visitors to use. Have lots of Cub Scout Propaganda (excuse me.. Literature).

>>Make sure your boys are well uniformed. Yep, Cubs in uniform at School will pick up some interest. *Look for Parades to participate in. Have a banner with name and sponsor, folks walk along and pass out literature to hands along the route. Be ready to answer questions from folks some distance away and refer them to District folks.

>>Posters in the Post Office, local stores, Library, School Lobbies, etc. Your District folks can help you create an eyecatching poster. Our Council prints'em for free.

>> MiS KiF YiS

We'll put this here in Cub Scouts, 'cause that's where it starts.

Had a good Webelos Weekend. Our Troop did a Whittlin'Chip instruction station. Lotsa Webs learned about safe knife handling and care. Then we loaned them a pocket knife and gave them a bar of soap and told'em to make something. They sat down on a big blue tarp and went to work. We saw cars, airplanes, a tent, and even some recognizable animals.

My question is: What can you do with the remains of about 75 bars of Ivory soap? Anybody out there know how to successfully make bars out of scraps?

So far, all we can do is put the scraps in old knee high nylon stockings. Works okay, washes hands etc. okay, but still alittle messy.

Microwave doesn't work to melt it (nice puffy result).

Double boiler does'nt work.

Direct heat threatens to ruin the pan.

Ummmmm?

Many good comments. Listen to blake47. The cost of KEEPING a bus must be balanced against the USE of the bus. Suburbans are cheaper in all categories. Renting vans or busses can be cheaper if the useage is rare. Our church owns a set of summer camp properties and a traveling camp ("Teen Adventure") and so owns a small fleet of busses. The youngest is 1996. Bought because they are used, and in the off season, rented out to other affiliated schools and meetings. This entails training counselors to obtain their CDL/Passenger endorsement. They specifically got busses without airbrakes (another endorsement). Insurance. Training. Licensing. Regular, periodic maintenance. Who's in charge of maintenance? No towing, too complex. Roof racks or rear seats removed for cargo.

Consider not how often the bus might be used, but how long it will sit?

Put the OUT back in SCOUT>

I think that ,well, a uniform is a uniform... You join something and one of the reasons you join can be the neat uniform. It sets one apart, marks one as different, special.

I recently found a book at a used book sale. "Matching Mountains with the Boy Scout Uniform" by Edward F. Reimer. pub. E.P.Dutton 1929.

It is a history of uniforms, why wear them, the US Scout uniform, who makes it (Eisner), why it is liked (tough, good looking, Scouts like to decorate it with "colorful patches" and therefore will work harder to earn awards, and a general approbrium of Scouting and how people respect Scouts more due to the uniform they wear. In 1929.

Some points from 1929 to ponder:

"The accepted and approved method of securing the Official Boy Scout Uniform is for the boy to earn it himself". p.153

" The uniformed Scout helps build respect for the established order" p.142

There is a 6 page chapter about the neckerchief and its proper display, care and use. Colored, Bi-colored, Square, Triangular.

The Scout staff (hiking cane? Signal pole? Litter handle?) was considered a part of the Uniform (4 pages)

"Shorts appeal strongly to Scouts" p.182

Oh, yes, and the broad brim hat (narrow brim for a boy, wider for the adult)

I won't go into the knee breeches ( buckled below the knee) and matching leggings or puttees.

"It has sometimes been said that the Scout Uniform is a military uniform of war... As a matter of history, the Scout Uniformis modeled after... the South African Constabulary and its army of peace." p.150.

Lots of neat pictures.

All in khaki.

So fashion and style continue...

Did anyone here participate in a "Interest Group"? Eamon, do you remember any feedback

from your questionaire? Rather small group, if only folks that went to that site first.

YiS

Don't forget a period of "Silent Worship". Just sit and listen to the woods around you.

Since I wouldn't want to subject anyone to my singing (except perhaps at a campfire), I counsel leaving singing off the menu.

Then too, "All Gods Critters have a Place in the Choir" is one of my favorite hymns.

We really do need a "Chaplaincy" section.

Faith must be a personal thing, it starts with our parents, our upbringing. Whatever we are taught thru example or overt teaching is the basis of what we accept or rebel against or seek and learn about.It also is dependant on the choices and opportunities with which life presents us (Quakers speak of "way opening"). The Spirit does throw things in our way for us to walk around or pick up and examine.

I had a friend at work who was Jehovah's Witness. She and I would have some searching discussions early in the morning as the work day started. She was very eager for me to come and visit her place of worship but absolutely would not come to mine. She passed me many tracts about her faith but, again, would not accept any about mine. When I offered her some 'history', well, that was all right, but not anything about the belief. I could tell her about my faith and its basis, but her religion would not allow her to accept anything written about it. Bible? We could refer to her Bible, but not to my old KJV. Weren't they from the same translations? She had to depend only on what her faith leaders required of her. I felt rather sad for her. At the same time, she was a wonderful person and hard not to like and respect. If her faith helped to make her what she was, then I really had no reason to feel sad for her. But still I had a hard time believing the value of such limitations on a believers actions. How to test a faith if not to question it and compare it to others?

The choice of a "Scout's Own" or "Silent Reflection Time" or "Faith Discussion" or "(insert faith here) Worship Service" is dependant on the good judgement of the Scout leaders and their Scouts. Duty to God is the requirement, the fulfillment is as varied as the Scouts in our Units.

usw YiS&C

Slide show of VCrew Rafting trip on Yough...

"Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Narraticong: I like that. A fifth choice.

John-in-KC: I respect what you have said. In fact, I find agreement in your Christian attitude, however...The idea that I am seeking to "mix and match"....

I'm not sure that is what a "Scout's Own" seeks to do.

Very often, the idea that someone else may have ANOTHER, different faith than my own, equally important, equally rewarding, taught and accepted equally as fervently as my own, can lead to both consternation and seeking. The Christ that I accept may not be acceptable to another. I may not judge them except by their actions ("fruit"). So the Hindi Scout in Mombai and the Muslim Scout in Djakarta is still my brother Scout. If we happen to come together in a camp, I say it is still possible to pray seperately together, to see the beauty in their vision of God as in mine. The Iroquois prayer may not mention Jesus, but the truth expressed is still acceptable to me and (surprise!) to my Muslim brother Scout. So they have told me. And the truth expressed by the prayer written by Rumi, a Sufi poet, agrees with a verse from Paul. This is not bad.

Are there differences? Of course. I would not seek to insult my brother Scout by pointing them out. He and I know of the differences. God knows, too. But by their fruit shall ye know them.

The Troop of my youth once went to a Jewish Synagogue to hear a famous Army General speak. Little did we know,(mostly Methodists) we would also sit thru a Jewish religious service. I doubt if it swayed any of us religiously, but it was educational. 'So that's what they do...'

I tell you true, the lack of ritual and overt ceremony in my Quaker faith is every bit as important to me as the beauty of the ritual and ceremony is important to my Catholic Scout brother, or the religious habits of my Mormon Scout brother , as the spiritual habits of my Muslim Scout brother are to him.

And yet they all find worth in sitting and at least THINKING and SPEAKING religiously, together. How is that?

If, after sitting thru our discussion, they choose to go from our circle and NOT attempt a "Scout's Own", inclusive worship, well, nothing wrong with that. At the least, I have reminded them of the diversity of our organization.

And the truth of the idea that "no, one need not be Christian to be a Scout".

God speed you all.

I train drivers. The first thing I tell the newbies is "there is no such thing as a dumb question".

I train folks at IOLS. The first thing I tell the nascent Scoutmasters is "there is no such thing as a dumb question". Then I ask them if they know the 13th point of the Scout Law.

I think I have suggested before that the Forum needs a "Chaplain" section...

I will be leading the discussion/class about "Scout's Own" at the IOLS next month. Our District (soon to be morphed along with 5 other Districts into a larger mega county region. Another story) has Units sponsored by Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Protestant, Mormon and non-religious organizations. The curriculum I read in the link above really mirrors the stuff I talk about and ask. I pass out and we participate in a model "Scout's Own" that we have developed over the years and frankly have never had anything but good comments on.

Are we concerned with unintentional offense? Of course. I point out that Scouting is a world wide, near universal philosophy. Its intention is to include every religious attitude. The similarities around the world of the various Promises and Laws indicates this to me. That we cannot include those with religious question marks in their heads and hearts is hard for me to fathom. I also point out that "officially" BSA cannot allow an athiest boy to belong, but that we will rarely find that out until he declares himself. I'm not going to ask, but I might ask at a BoR how the boy sees himself doing his "duty to God".

After reminding our nascent Scouters that BSA is, after all, a "religious" organization but NOT a "religion", ( see again the Scout Promise, Law and the back of the application)

I mention that there are four possibilities:

1) You can avoid the issue by not having any religious observance at all at any of your activities, but merely remind the boys of their "Duty to God" at Boards of Review, etc.

2) If the Unit is homogenous, all of one faith, then it's easy. You plan accordingly and observe your faith accordingly.

3) If you have more than one faith represented in your Unit, then you have to judge what is appropriate and non-offensive. The model S/O that we do draws from Old Testament, American Indian (Navaho and Iroquois), Q'uan, non-descript Irish (Catholic? perhaps) and Buddhist prayer in it's text. It does mention Christ, Allah, God and Great Spirit. We do not sing, but I point out that is a personal thing. We include a period of silent worship, where folks are encouraged to pray, silently or vocally, as the Spirit leads. As it happens, our home Troop recently had a Hindu lad join. His dad is a priest in the local Mandhir (a new Scout Troop sponsor? Wait and see). And yes, our Scout arms can stretch to include him. The biggest problem here is accomodating his vegetarian diet.

4) The last possibility we speak of is actively letting the boys set the standard. The idea is that the adults often muck things up by setting expectations or requirements too stringently. Hence the term "Scout's Own". But, this possibility is to be tempered by the requirements of #2 and #3 above. We call this "education".

I am again reminded of the Scout I met at a formal Scout activity. He was fully decked out and I noticed he wore THREE religious medals. On closer inspection, he wore the God and Country, the Ner Tamid, and the Ad Altare Dei. I asked him how he came to wear these three together ( I only earned the G&C as a Scout). This over acheiver told me his father was Catholic, so he earned that attending his fathers church, his mom was Jewish so when he attended that Synagogue he earned the Jewish award. His troop was chartered by a Methodist church, so, he said, it was natural for him to attend MYF there occassionally. And so he earned the G&C. "Naturally".

This is in contrast to the Scouts I have met who are "not sure about this God stuff". So you teach by example if not lesson and lecture. Respect for beliefs other than my own.

I vaguely remember a MASH episode where Fr. Mulcahy did a Bris. Maybe not.

YiS&C

Ditto the above comments.

I would do my best to ignore her rude and inappropriate behavior. Smile and treat her as you do the other parents. Make an effort to ask her to help with things. Compliment the boy when you can for HIS efforts and make him to feel he is welcome and appreciated as a Cub. Try to make sure the boy's choice is Scouting.

Depend on your reputation as a caring, competant Scout Leader to carry the day. Eventually, others may take her aside and "coffee cup" her.

KiS MiF YiS

Scoutmaster Derek Flint ? Yeah, I remember him...

I only know Remington Steele by reputation. Used to moonlight as a Shooting Range Officer as I remember...

Ditto F Scouter....

Pull out any Scout Manual...

Hung on a wall, horizontally or vertically, Blue Union hangs on flags own right, the left of the viewer.

Peace (preferable) or war, makes no difference.

"Urban legend" stuff, uh.

Reviewing the above , I see not only a difference of opinion as to where and when to wear a patch, but a confusion as to WHAT patch we're talking about.

Whitlin' Chip is earned by Cub Scouts, usually Bears and Webelos, and confers on the earner the privilege of carrying and utilizing a POCKET KNIFE on Cub Scout activities.

Totin' Chip is earned by Boy Scouts and confers on the earner the privilege of utilizing a pocket knife, an ax or hand axe, or saw.

Poor, unsafe useage can result in the privilege being revoked. See previous threads

Both are termed "temporary" patches in "official" Scout guides, and therefore can be worn for a while on the right pocket. BUT, it is always argued, why make them in the shape of a pocket flap if they are not intended to be worn on a pocket flap? Traditionally, I have seen the two worn on the right pocket flap. So: Cubs wear it on the flap, until they get the "Summer Activities" patch. And THAT is a "tempo" patch ,too.

Boy Scouts have a choice: Totin' Chip, or Fireman Chit or OA Lodge .

Then we have the over achievers that wear all three on the pocket flap.

"Will Work for Colorful Scraps of Cloth" (new bumper sticker)

A campfire is set to go ( make it non-fail!) in the ring. Each Scout is asked to bring in a GOOD dry piece of wood to add to the pile. The trail into the fire circle is lined with Camp Staff or OA . Scouts are instructed to enter the fire circle in silence. This instruction should be made to the camp unit leaders early on, and the Staff lining the trail should silently reinforce the idea by standing with "signs up". Each Sout enters the circle and throws his piece onto the pile and then takes his seat with his unit.

When all are in, the Staff trails in and stands on each side of the fire pile. The following poem is read, LOUDLY and with solemnity (no need to read the author or title, just the poem).Toward the end, some one of the Staff kneels, visibly, next to the fire pile and lights a match, which lights a torch held by another Staff kneeling by the pile, who lights the fire with it. When the fire is well lit, both stand up and the MC of the evening comes in and commences a song or Cheer. etc...

(("Lighting a Fire" by John Oxenham (1852-1941)))

Kneel always when You light a fire,

Kneel reverently and Thankful be

For Gods unfailing Charity.

And on ascending Flame inspire

A little Prayer which shall upbear

The Incense of your Thankfulness

For this sweet Grace of Warmth and Light!

For here again is Sacrefice

For your Delight.

Oak, Elm, and Chestnut, Beech and Red Pine Bole

God shrined HIS Sunshine and entombed

For you these stores of Light and Heat,

Your Life Joys complete.

These all have Died that you might Live:

Yours now the High Prerogative

To Loose their Long Captivities,

And Through their Long Captivities,

A wider Life to Give.

Kneel Always when you light a fire,

Kneel reverently.

And Grateful be

For Gods unfailing Charity.

YiS

"Made ya think"

Scout and not... many are no more...

Mast Cove Camp, Portland MA

The Nature Camp, somewhere out in VA

Camp Theodore Roosevelt, Chesapeake Bay, MD

Camp Wilson, VA

Camp Freedom (Troop orgnized), Clarksville, MD

Cedar Point, MD

Heritage Reservation, Union PA

Broadcreek, MD

Camp Catoctin, Thurmont MD

Camp Shiloh, Madison VA

'05 National Jamboree

CSDC, Lake Needwood, MD

Camper, Counselor, Adult Leader, Maintenance Man, Bus Driver. It's all good.

to misiquote somebody, " a bad day at camp is far better than a good day at the office"..

(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Growing up (I think I'm grown up), I found that some of the folks I admired most were the ones that could say they were 'sorry' for their own action or words. Admitting fault, 'owning' ones error and not trying to pass it off to someone else is a sign, I think, of being further along the human trail than others. It surprises people and is often the only way of de-fusing dangerous situations. Even if the error/hurt/problem is not immediately recognized by the affected party, if the actor (not the acted upon) admits to the difficulty early on, it will more often than not by-pass the argument and recrimination that might otherwise follow.

Thank you Gunny..

YiS&C

I remember an article about the USCGC Eagle, the 'Tall Ship' that the Coast Guard trains it's officers on. The Officer of the Deck (a Cadet)was drilling his crew (other Cadets) and got to a series of commands to arrange the sails and rigging for getting under way. The article quoted him exactly, and then noted that the crew "held fast" because the O/D had said the orders in the wrong sequence. All the commands needed to take place, but the Cadets were taught to ALWAYS do them in the sequence given. The article noted that this was the equivalent of being told to put your shoes on and then your socks.

Mayo on the RIGHT slice of bread, mustard on the LEFT slice, lettuce on the mayo, ham slice on the mustard, flip ham side over on the lettuce.

TP roll end NEXT to wall or AWAY?

Roll up Tshirts or fold them.

Necessity or philosophy or opinion or tradition?

Cub Pack has lack of membership. CC and CM and PTreas and only DL beat bushes for new members. Remaining parents see the headlights coming over the hill. No one wants to be the new CC and CM. CO is a "CO of Convenience". Parents make plans, T/F to other units. CP has no fund raising for two years, has really nice catered B&G, Web crossover, sends Webs to summer camp almost free, Cubs to CSDC almost free. When CM and CC resign (boys moving on), no one will take up the reins, unit desolves. DE beats bushes to no avail. DC has PFlag and supplies and PWD track. Treasury was about $50 at the end. CO said "eh" and funds went to Council.

Depends on Troop conditions and SM perogative, I think.

Son's Troop is presently small but fairly active. Many inexperienced young Scouts, so SPL is presently also QM. Our two PL are both barely FC, so the other PoR are also spread thin. Librarian, Historian are both SC. SPL/QM will pass off the QM when another FC is created. SM decision there.

Nobody wants to be CA or Bugler. (Troop clarinetist? doesn't sound quite right, but no brass players in the Troop presently....)