SSScout

Once more into the breech, dear friends... My stint as a Chaplain at the '05 Jamboree was very rewarding and educational. I was most gratified to see men (and women) of various faiths (no Presbeyterians for some reason) working together to help each others faith. Catholics and Methodists help set up worship space for Muslims. Quaker and Jew went to visit the Scouts in the hospital. Mennonite and Greek Orthodox took water to the Troops. I did notice some gnashing of teeth among a few when Icons were transported for Orthodox services and it was interesting when the Quakers asked the Episcop

What they said... My only complaint was that I had some great ideas but THEY wouldn't let me ticket'em because they were for CUB SCOUTS (specifically the Day Camp) and I am a registered BOY Scout leader. But it's all good. Even tho I have been the First Assistant Everything Else to the CSDC Director (wife), for the last three years. Sooooo (as my Math teacher would say) fall back, dig in, and save the equipment.And then, because of the range of my tickets, I had to CHANGE my Leader status from ASM to UC! I was fine tuning the last of the tickets at 1pm on the Sunday of the second week

Lessee now... 600 miles, say,12 plus hours driving (breaks for lunch, potty, sightsee) 40 plus Scouts/Scouters, mebbe 10 cars, (okay, 8. Minivans. ) Gear on roofs, under seats, in trunks, one adult driver per car, driving the whole way BOTH ways. Can't convoy, must plan on meeting up periodically or just meeting at the camp at the end. Cell phones, walky talkys? Federal Mileage allowance in 2005 was $0.48 1/2 per mile (make it realistically $.75/mile. (Not everyone drives a Prius). Including gas+oil+insurance+depreciation+amortization+tolls+wear&tear. 600x.75= $450. per car. 4

I do not do 'serious' climbing, but watch alot, and have been bottom belay for my sons Troop with much direct oversight by some very experienced climbers. Retire rope conservatively... Education... Some years ago,I was given about 200' of 1/2" Plymouth "Goldline" and since I had a set of double blocks, I thought I'd use it to help move some large rocks and concrete chunks. Made a yoke, wrapped the rock, set the up block on a sturdy Oak tree branch and set out to hoist the first rock and push it over to its desired spot.( four fall, plus a pull, about 18' or so rope in each fall and about

Ditto the above on my end. When Scouter .com opens, or when I click on "Today's Active Topics", the bottom activity line shows "opening page www.xvgaoke***", then shows "display picture" ((etc stuff)) and this repeats several times, before the Scouter page displays and "Done" shows on the bottom activity line. Things are very slow here, relatively. I operate from a server with a very tough fire wall, so I'm not concerned about my end, but from my experience and the above comments, something is in or trying to be in Scouter.com that shouldn't be. No unusual pictures, but still slow to d

In my informal study, I have detected a change in philosophy, focus, purpose in BSAing since its creation. Since Beard, Seton and the other original American founders adopted/adapted B-Ps vision, "Scouting" changed. Green Bar Bill, I think, fostered a return to the original ideas, but... . I would hope you could show that in your history. Not so much a recitation of names as a explication of the evolving ideas and how personalities were chosen (and self chosen?) to form and lead the largest youth organization in America. You might touch on the ongoing tension between the "profession

Can we say "Segway"? I haven't been to Owasippee either, but troll the past posts about it... Level walking is nice, but APH isn't perfectly flat either, and the whole complex is spread over almost 3 x 4 miles...Walking, biking, bus transit, all useful...

O Wa Si PPee... Use a large, established camp, basic infrastructure is there, use the ground for summer camping and "high adventure" in off years... Give CAC a chance to recover. National owns it, CAC doesn't, local county people keep their zoning and get tourist dollars, everybody's happy (except the resort developer). Cool weather rather than hot dry/humid. Where's the problem?

I always teach the Four Laws of Motion... 1) Action/Reaction 2) At rest/Stay at rest; in motion/Stay in motion (unless acted upon) 3) Acceleration proportional to force applied 4) You can't push a rope....

Maybe National could buy Owasippe?

If possible, Take your calender and schedule the events as far in advance as possible. Rough in the event and date. Put these on a largish paper, chart size, poster on the wall by the parents hangout (back of the room? Hallway?) CM announces and ACM/CC button holes the parents and gets them to sign up then and there ("well I'll help, but I can't be responsible because...") Often the empty spots are an encouragement for others to step up. When they see all the neat stuff, months in advance, then they can get a handle on it. Vacations, employer concerns, church events, school events all

(((sounds of crackling fire in back ground))) Oh, you can't get to heaven (oh you can't get to heaven) In a red canoe (in a red canoe) 'Cause the darn Girl Scouts (cause the darn Girl Scouts) Will follow you (will follow you) Oh, you can't get to heaven in a red canoe 'cause the darn Girl Scouts will follow you, I ain't gonna grieve, my Lord, no more I ain'ta gonna grieve my Lord no more, I ain'ta gonna grieve my Lord no more I ain'ta gonna grieve, my Lord, no more. Oh, you can't get to heaven In Merlyns pants Cause Merlyns pants Are full of ants.... ** * * (etc)

Yep, Yep, Yep... Get your boys out and about. Get'm out of their "Comfort Zone". Get'm away from home. Plan that long trip. See the sights. Talk to the locals. You might even meet another Scout. The Spirit will often lead one into another. Here we are sitting in our local burger joint, in walks a family of 5, and the dad has on a "Florida umpty-um Council Summer Camp" Tshirt. Well, the two dads strike it off, much to the shagrin of the boys, but hospitality requires a stranger be welcomed. Info exchanged, local color recommended, smiles all around. New friends made. Yi

Archery Range Safety Officer does seem to have varying requirements, depending on the Council. Scout is often seen as different than Cub, but in actuality they are essentially the same, just bigger ranges. Our Council requires at least a long days training by a trainer who posseses a Level 3 cert from a national archery association (there are several). And finding that trainer is often the problem. Often the Trainer has gone to the Archery Organization and taken their training at his/her own expense (several days long). You can get it (the RSO training) at the BSA National Camp Schoo

Oh, let's include some more recent inspirational stuff::: The Rocket Boys ==Homer Hickam (October Sky is the movie) Into Thin Air ==Jon Krakauer and some more classy fluff::: Twenty one Balloons (balloon inventor becomes lost while crossing the Pacific, and lands on Kakatoa , establishes an advanced civilazation and escapes just before the island blows up)

Everybody is either on the bus or off the bus... A Scout unit owning a bus or the Charter Org owning the bus or a Scout parent owning the bus (A Scout is Trustworthy) should not be a problem... The problems will appear with the State insurance and driver Licensing requirements. Check out the requirements with your State MVA or DMV. The Commercial Driver License and Classification laws are very specific as to size of vehicle, seating capacity, etc. Passenger endorsement and School Bus endorsement for your CDL are very specific too. 'Course once one has the CDL, jobs are easy to get.

Wonderful. That's why we're here. I am emailing my congrats to Eric via the articles author. But howcum this post isn't titled "Eric Burns"? Dan Snyder is only the Center Director...

My initial take on the post is that, yes, the Scout should get ALL his awards from the Troop. The Camp Class should always pass the TF, SC, FC, MB, Scout Lifeguard, Mile Swim, Totin Chip, etc. on to the Troop for final approval and presentation. I believe the TC class conselor was operating on the premise that this was an average Scout and "a Scout is Trustworthy". Pass the card to the Scout, he passes it on to the Troop. The Camp may have learned something here, the Troop may have learned something and hopefully the parents have picked up a piece of info about their son too. AND the Scout

Ah no... Ya gotta be a Camp Director... As the First Assistant Cub Scout Day Camp Director for Program Design, Procurement and Implementation, (guess what my significant other is...)I must say that if you build it, they will come and throw up on it. But you don't concentrate on the problems except to plan for the possibilities and solve them when and if they happen. You concentrate on the OTHER 200 Cubs smiling and saying 'OOO" and "AAAH". Even the Cub with the sprained ankle will remember the ambulance ride, if nothing else. The rest will learn alittle about map and compass use, what

At our CSDC this year (as in past years), we always have coffee and donuts on hand for the early staff settup folks. So we order 2 "Boxes o' Joe" from Dunkin'Donuts and 3 dozen donuts. Then two Packs, out of grattitude, bring us another "Box o' Joe", EACH. Then the staffer that comes in after lunch arrives with... another "Box o'' Joe". We take home 3 full "BoJs".... Next morning, change the order to ONE BoJ, and 3 doz Donuts...Same two Packs each bring ANOTHER BoJ each... Noon Staffer got the message... Home refrigerator is full of Iced Coffee... Third morning, we buy NO coffee

OO...OO...OO... By All Means... Love to compare... Did you do "Land of the Pharaoh-ohs"? The police and F & R folks came to our CSDC because they wanted to, not because they HAD to! Where do we send the coffee?(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Here's how I was taught. It works, but BE CAREFUL (you'll see why in a minute). Corfam? Nah... Collect: Shoes, Kiwi black wax polish in the little can (Esquire not so good, seems like), a small candle anchored on a plate, Cotton balls (cosmetic section), old wool sock, stiff bristle brush, cotton rag (T shirt?). Saddle soap, if possible. Allow AT LEAST an hour (HOUR) per shoe. Clean shoes with stiff brush and cotton rag as necessary. ( if they are new, just wipe dust off). Saddle soap to remove dirt. Water as nescessary. If leather soaks up water, let'em dry thoroughly before p

Might be too late to arrange this year, but we have 4 Troops that negotiate to work at the County Fair each year. In Uniform, they help direct parking and traffic, deliver ice to concessions, pick up trash, and act as 'gofers' for the Fair headquarters. I know, also, that the Fair is open to proposals from folks to operate food concessions and such. Are you chartered to a church or civic club like Lions? Perhaps they would partner with you for a funding project. Frinstance, at the Fair, we have several churches that run food stands and you'll see Scouts behind the counter in Troop Tshirts.

Thought: I hope this wasn't an IT class project. Fait accompli?

Whoa... Memo to Fellow Staff: Misconstruing the unmeant misunderstood multiply referenced jargonistic lingo is to be avoided. Mebbe a new thread? SNAFU POTFH (Indiana U vs Purdue) GFY IMHO.... Write the letters to Outside, I've seen some very appropriate responses here, and THEY need to be addressed outside the choir, STS.