SSScout

A very desirable problem. I like the idea of the "extra" belt length attached to the vest... Here's some other ideas.... *Take'm all and wire them together ala chain mail and wear THAT as a vest? * Take your Vise Grips and crimp the BL around the shoulder holes of the red vest like shoulder guards. Did that to some of my sons extras. YiS

Our District has earned a reputation for serving up very successful Cub Scout Day Camps, and this past week is now no exception. Takes organizational work? You bet. What is the one thing to which I would point as the biggest reason for our success? Asking. *Ask your friends and relations to help. They may be or may have been Scout people. A nurse becomes the Camp medico. A scientist friend becomes the nature pavilion guy ( he was a Star Scout waaaay back when). *Ask at your Church, Temple, Synagogue. Don't limit your asking to Scout types or Scout venues, but.... *Ask at the Round Table, at the Pinewood Derby, at the Merit Badge Day. Get your Boy Scout helpers, too. *Ask REI, and they provide a "leave no trace" program. *Ask the State Police, and their medivac helicopter lands and blows everyones hat off (talk about impressing Cub Scouts!) and talks about search and rescue and umpteen horsepower jet engines... *Ask the internet and find a local Racing Pigeon Club who take over a pavilion and regale the Cubs with bird stories (who knew it was so interesting?) *Ask Home Depot and they provide building kits for 250 Cubs AND the personnel to lead the Cubs in building bird houses and model planes and space shuttle pen holders... *Ask the fellow you work with and it turns out he knows somebody who has a friend who belongs to a remote control model airplane club. They come and exhibit some super models and FLY loop-de-loops over the Cubs at lunch time. *Ask the Den Walkers who are milling around in the back ground and lo and behold they are dying to help young archers and fishers and modelers ("didn't know I could..."). *Ask the Park Ranger and by golly everything is fine, he had no idea what was scheduled that week, he's new to this park and gee, it's been a long time but he used to be a Scout and... *Ask the pilot of the lake boat to act like a pirate when the Cubs ride in her boat ("you mean I can?") *Ask the local Coffee shop and the manager was an Eagle and how much Joe would you like each morning? *Ask to local Super Grocery, gift cards good for staff morning donuts... *Ask the local hardware emporium and get 20% off anything you need. Special Caution tape? have it for you tommorrow... *Ask the fellow that had the near fatal accident a while back and now he raises parrots that do tricks. Be glad to come out. 15 parrots at a time! *Ask the company with the eye catching ad in the Sunday paper magazine and wow a 70 foot tall hot air balloon appears one morning on the atheletic field. **HELP STAMP OUT NOBODY ASKED ME** (motto on a button I got somewhere 20 years ago) *Ask... and it (and they) will come.... YiS(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Goodgootamooga. Volunteered to help, willing to help, qualified (we assume... age, rank, experience, etc.)and NOT ALLOWED? I really don't believe that. I believe I would try to have a polite conversation with the "leader", perhaps with a friend in tow (parent?) and find out the truth of the matter. **I know our District activities (Camporee, Day camp, lotsa etc.) would NEVER turn any qualified help away. There's always some where to put a willing pair of hands, some apprentice slot with an experienced person, some desk checker, gofer, runner, "chief asssistant smile encourager" place for a able willer. ** buddy-3, all I can suggest is forgive the implied affront, smile and make yourself available the next time. Your time and skills and abilities will be needed in the Scout world the next time, I betcha. YiS

Jackson Browne, Roadie song. Grateful Dead "live" Truckin' Does Chuck Berry count for "Jammin'?" how 'bout Johnny B. Goode.

Jackson Browne, Roadie song. Grateful Dead "live" Truckin' Does Chuck Berry count for "Jammin'?" how 'bout Johnny B. Goode.

Howdy Its Me: As a past WDL, I can sympathize. 1) Check with Council and District about"Webelos Weekends" and Webelos Sleepaway camps. Both are a good low impact(to the Cub, not necessarily the woods!) camping experience. They can end up with Web pins and a good feeling about BSA camping. The WW should be attended by WScouts and a host Troop. The week long camp should be attended by your Den as a group, often combined with other local Wdens into a Camp Pack. 2) I hope the mom continues to keep the Gameboy "thingy" so the boy can pay attention to the world around him. Keep us posted on your progress. YiS

In my alternative life, I am out in the public space alot. I was approached by a gent in a shirt emblazoned by a pro football team logo. He asked me "Hey, you like football? How 'bout them (insert pro team name here)!!??" I smiled and said yeah, I like to play FB in my back yard and watch a good game on occasion. I then said I had no real interest in watching someone play FB who is payed more in an hour than I'm payed in a year. He hesitated at that comment, then asked if I played in school. I said no, I marched in the band. He then proceeds to regale me with a list of his HS football record. I said yeah, keep those memories bright. Entertainment is right. For info, I listen to Limbaugh and Amy Goodman on "Democracy Now" . Get all sides and don't limit yourself to only one version of "good news". "its for the kids" Bob the Tomato said that. "follow the money" Deep Throat said that. "find and watch the movie 'Z' " I said that. YiS (This message has been edited by SSScout)

There always seems to be two perspectives: "Back when I was a Scout..." "This is what I see now..." #1: My mom had been a Campfire girl, my dad had never been a Scout. But when I wanted to join Cub Scouts (so they told me, I asked to join. Perhaps from a school presentation), they whole heartedly supported me and our Pack and then Troop. Dad made things for us, drove us around, coached our CS softball team. Mom was a DL.(DM!). Our basement was a Patrol meeting room, equipment storage place. Altho we lived in a nascent suburb, Scouts was one of the biggest things to do. I also marched in the HS band (others of my Scout friends were on sport teams, etc.), so yeah, we had choices. #2 Times change. My daughter never took an interest in GS, perceived as "too dorky" First wife never supported the idea.. My son took to CS easily, both from my encouragement and a school promotion (they were still allowed). Second wife and I were DLs, she CC and I CM. The other parents in the P were supportive, but many were strapped for time and money. Too big of a house, too big of a mortgage, IMHO. "Gee, you know about these things, We don't" Good job thanks CM!" When it came time to move on into BS, no one was willing to pick up the reins, so the P folded. Our DE ( an otherwise excellent Scout) said they would not chill the charter, even tho all the Cubs had moved on or dropped out. The DE and DD labored for several months with various promotions to resusitate the P to no avail. No interest in the school community. Been two years now. Is that indicative? of what? Our present Troop is very active, as a Troop. The 4 Patrols are not that active as Patrols. We have 12 new "crossed over" boys and things look good. But more on that later...

"All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that's an alibi for my ignorance." = Will Rogers = Give me more ignorance, F. YiS

Yes, it depends on the boy and the Troop and the SM. But... If he looks to be into rough and ready stuff, get him interested in Summer Camp, but maybe not the Patrol cook your own type. If he can enjoy the SC, he's in. Find a Troop that NEEDS a Venture crew, help'm start it! Oh, and is 57 too old to be in Scouts? YiS

?Class A vs Class B vs ...C ..D...? ?Field vs Activity ? ?Formal vs Informal? ?Dress vs Play? ?Tan vs (pick your T color)? ?Dress vs Field? ?Classy vs Messy? ?Good vs Not so? ?BoR/CoH-go-to-Meeting vs Stay-a-home? ?

"It's for the kids" ... Bob the Tomato said that. Welcome to the Forums... the addiction is palpable. * Cast around and see if you can find a Mediator that is Scout savvy but not attached to Troop1 or Troop2. This situation cries out for an unbiased observer. Go to the local Bar association and ask. * It occurs to me that the bad feeling will linger, no matter the actual conditions of the split or the 'percieved' conditions of the split. The DE and the SE will each bring their own biases to the situation, I feel, and may not be able to give the Solomon's decree that leaves all with a good taste in their collective mouths. Perhaps the last annecdote illustrates why the "rebel" Scouts of Troop2 left Troop1? * "Follow the money" ... Deep Throat said that. * "Smile and wave as you go by" ... I said that. YiS

Thank you jkhny.I aapreciate your efforts. I would recommend the movie "Z" to anyone reading this thread. YiS

Two deep... Printed out directions... Check points... FRS radios... Cell phones... Lunch/dinner schedules... aha... * May I present a personal story to illustrate another unmentioned need? HEADCOUNTS. * Pre cell phone era... Our Troop had attended a Camporee at a rather remote camp, some distance from our home grounds. Three days two nights. On sunday afternoon, we are the last Troop out of the camp. A three hour drive home ahead of us. My dad is the last car of our Troop 'convoy'. Lo,what's this? Here's a lone Scout, all his gear stacked beside him. His Troop was long gone. No one else around. No pay phone (no one would be at home any way). Well, he's not far from our area. Always room for one more. Old Ford Station wagon. One adult. Six boys. All the backpacks, tents, poles, Patrol cook gear. I volunteered to be shoehorned in with the packs in the back. (seat belts? wadda they?) Lots of stuff on laps. We had a good time on the way back, but our new friend learned what "the brotherhood of Scouts" really meant. YiS

Certainly a Lifetime Memory. Questions: * Why was the Jambo stage flanked by the German National flag colors? Wunderbar! * Howcum the staff picnic caterer couldn't realize before hand that even his truck drivers would need background checks? Thank you Edys Ice Cream!!! (Did you get your Edys IC badge??) * Only one bad personal memory ( I won't count the Alaskan tragedy as personal here). I was coming back to Mahone and passed the OA theater. A Troop had had their lunch in the field along the side of the road by the lunch trailer and left every bit of their wrappers and trash in the spot where they ate. I couldn't believe it. I pointed this out to another group of Scouts and together we cleaned it up. * Had one MP sargent challenge me for riding my Scout Staff issued bike on HIS road. Had to walk back from the parking lot! (okay, make that two bad memories). * Met Scouts from Kenya, Jamaica, Japan and Canada. * Shared ideas about disablities (we are "temporarily abled") with the disability exhibit (my dad had only one arm most of his adult life). * Marveled (reveled) in the ability of Scouts to rise to the occasion in adversity. * Mountain Boarding? High lining? Wow! * Just a few things... YiS.

* It never hurts to have ALL parents registered Scouters. Our Troop even pays the registration fee. Our Council recently declared that all MB Counselors (1) had to be registered Scouters (new form with new MB C form) and (2) had to be registered with the District MB Coordinator. * I don't think the BoR C is an "official" position per se. Your Troop could make it so in your Troop. Our BoR has the CC as the BoR Chairman and then any parent available (usually a ASM, too) can serve on the BoR. It is , I think, very good to include the parents and then they get a sense of ownership (?) of the Troop. The inexperienced parent("hey, I could never do that") can see what their boy sees and be encouraged to be more involved. The IP hears the example of the CC and the ASM or the more experienced parent and gains confidence about the Scout experience thereby. Yeah, the boys parent can't be included on the BoR, but that's the idea, yes? * Since we are not a really huge Troop, BoR are held on a "as needed" basis, sometimes as often as once a month. * All who serve on the BoR sign the Ad Form, so yes, the personnel involved changes almost each time. * Just don't forget, (1) "it's for the kids" (Bob the Tomatoe) and (2) "call'em Scouts not guys. That's what they are" . I said that. Good luck and Godspeed to you and your Troop.

Very sad. When the purpose of the organization (say, what is our purpose, anyway? Another thread there...) is forgotten in favor of the personal resume (look how many Scouts/Units I have led to join/ be formed) or the income (is there a bonus/bounty for showing increases?) or the BoD never leave the board room to visit the "front lines" to verify the SE reports, well Bad Things Happen. Now, is Irvings purpose the same as the Councils purpose the same as the Districts purpose the same as the Troop/Packs purpose the same as ...? Or are only the methods of the N, C, D, T/P in fulfilling that purpose different? YiS

* Read an article about the snake handlers up in the Appalachians. Their faith leads them to "get up close and personal" with timber rattlers and copperheads. This comes from Biblical injunctions Mark 16:18 among others. That's the beauty of faith, I guess, one can pick and choose what to use as an indication of your Loyalty to God (?). * I met many a good Scout in my time as a Jamboree Chaplain, but none with THAT sort of faith. YiS

Once upon a time, Our UC organized a visit to the USS Constellation, a civilwar era sloop-of-war. Not a frigate, I won't go into the distinctions here. Berthed in the Baltimore harbor, the USS Constellation runs ovenight programs for Scouts, Cubs and school groups. You bunk down as a "powder monkey" or (adults) a "Landsman" and are signed on as a 1855 crewman. The accomodations are similar (hammocks or deck, biscuits and beef stew for dinner and since we're in port, some fresh fruit) to the period. The Quatermaster and Master at Arms takes no guff from landlubber conscripts. You work the rigging, run cannon( one is fired in the morning), stand night watch. After you are mustered out, the troop or pack can tour Fort McHenry, visit the Civil War sites in the area and the B&O Train Museum.

Wooah! That's dedication! Thank you for being there... and there... and there... and over there... I can only hope my fingers are so agile at that age. It's been very good to (vitually) meet you! YiS

Ah yes, my favorite summer job, raft guide. Lotta water under THAT raft. * Find the made for tv/video movie "Same River, Different Day". Very good river running scenes,(some where WAY out west) family movie. Some old friends get together for a last fling of summer trip, sons and ex's come along, look for the "room with a view" episodes. * Good beginners trip, on the Shennandoah and Potomac, past Harpers Ferry. Look up River and Trails Outfitters in Sandy Hook MD. and Shennandoah Outfitters in Front Royal, VA. * More advanced trips on the New river in West VA. Gauley is down there, too. Ask about water releases from the Pipe Stem Dam, they'll think you know what your talking about! Keep your feet in the raft, please!

I know that our CSDC always passes out a requirement list that has a proviso in caps to the effect "ask your Cub about the activities. Some of the listed requirements MAY not have been passed due to weather, etc. and therefore need to be completed at home" . I don't think BLs are "given away " at our CSDC. I think the camp staff does a bang up job (99%volunteer with a tiny budget) with what they have. If anyone has a concern about honestly earning a badge, speak to your camp staff and find out.

Welcome shortad! Check out the Uniform Police threads, and thus put your query in perspective. As a past CM, I must say that , yes the Cpatches don't fit "appropriately" on the blue shirts of those Cubs of lesser stature. Be prepared (where have I heard that before?) to either resew the patches on a larger shirt or adapt in another way, in coming years.. The "Badge Magic" does work, and allows one to redo the patch on the next shirt (see postings about that, too). Oh, did I say "lesser stature"? Don't EVER let your Cs think they are "lesser" in any respect but size. That changes with time. Teach them pride of their uniform. It will represent their accomplishments and the patches will eventually (I hope and pray) in later years remind them of good times and good friends. Remind their parents to REMOVE the badges when they seek to recycle or otherwise retire that old blue shirt. Those patches will someday be a keepsake that they will, come college days, let them get all dewey eyed and embarassed when they see'em after 10 or more years. I remember being saddened when I came to a thrift shop one time and found a full dress Webelos shirt hanging up for sale. Who lost their history here? Was it an unthinking mom or disgruntled dad? I would never know. I'm sorry I didn't buy it for the sake of it. Good luck and God Speed to your Pack. YiS.

When my daughter and son were much younger and smaller, it was not unusual for them to come up and say "Gimme a cookie!" ( or toy/drink/icecream/or ...). As an attentive parent, I certainly want my children to have what they need, but maybe not everything they want. Darling, intelligent urchins that they were, they soon learned that daddy didn't react well to demands, but reasoned requests, politely made often got the item requested. So the previous DEMAND ("GIMME MY COOKIE NOW!) became "Daddy? could I have some cookies and milk ,please? I've got my chores done!" The skills of diplomacy, negotiation and courtesy became more apparent as they got older and matured. So, when I see the oft posted sign/bumper sticker/flag demanding that "GOD BLESS AMERICA" I find I am not surprised when of late it appears that such blessing has perhaps not been happening so much as before. Perhaps if we were to politely make our request, we might see more of such. "Please, God, would you consider blessing America? We promise to do more of those chores we missed of late!"

Another variation to scratch headabout: On the local Memorial Day parade, witnessed Scouts and Cub Packs marching. Tan Shirt Epaulettes occupied by both blue and red loops. Webelos Scouts that are still in Pack but dedicated to a Troop?