SSScout

Here's is where to order your Peach Cobbler: Curb side pick up, mask and social distant inside: http://dempseysofashtonmd.com/

""That which we call a Trek Leader by any other name would smell as much after the Trek."""

There ya go, make the effort, local paper, local TV station, County Cable channel, Community Facebook page, Neighborhood link,,,,, How's the "reporter" going to come if you don't tell them ? Brilliant ! Absolutely Brilliant ! That is the local point I mean... Might even invite Jane Pauley and "Sunday Morning" from CBS to come by !

I think it's great that BSA, in the midst of all the rest of the problems we/BSA face, wants to give our adult leaders some outdoor experience. I am sure alot of the new ALs need it. outdoor experience. F'rinstance: Scoutson had been out camping/hiking with family, with church camp (very primitive and challenging), then went with his Troop to Philmont. He became the Asst. Trek Leader. By the next time the Troop wanted to go to Philmont, the adult escorts (!) were almost clueless as to camping/high adventure stuff, so one of them approached Scoutson to be their TrekLeader. By this time, he had earned his Eagle, was 18 and ready to move into adult life. They made it worth his while, paid his way, and a bit more, just to have his expertise. The shake down trips were fun, he said, He came back with lots of smiling pictures and stories of how the Scouts were all "tenderfeet" and the adults were all "smartphone addicted". One of the adults, a stockbroker by trade, actually brought a solar power charging set for his phone. One of his stories involved insisting one of the first nights on the trail, the Scouts did NOT crawl into the tents until they had come with him, and sat some distance from the camp and fire and JUST LOOK UP.

The gist of the matter is this: The Scout is earning money for THE UNIT , not for him/herself. The Unit's bankroll (checking account, etc.) ultimately belongs to the Charter Organization. Any money collected selling popcorn/mulch/candy/lightbulbs or earned by parking cars/raking leaves/flipping pancakes goes into the units bank account. There can be NO seperate bank accounts, but if the treasurer thinks it appropriate, a paper accounting is made: columns for Johnny, Timmy, Susie, etc.. This money CANNOT be used to buy personal stuff (boots, backpacks, wool socks, uniforms, tshirts). It can be used to buy the Unit's general stuff (awards, Troop neckers, Class B tshirts that everyone gets, flags, trailers, spare tires for the trailers, Troop Tents that everyone can "borrow", Merit Badge Books for the Troop Library,,,,), It can be used to offset Scout Dues, Boys' Life, or even summer camp fees.. This is not to say that the Troop Committee can't decide to use it's money for a "charitable" reason, ie., a uniform or Campership for a deserving Scout whose family is in hard times, say. How the income is divvied up per Scout( Columns ?) is up to the Troop Committee, GAAP..... (generally accepted accounting practices....) Since the money really belongs to the CO (who is sponsoring the Scout Unit , and the CO knows the money is being used for "Scouting") it should NOT be passed on to another entity without the CO's permission. This includes the Scout transferring to another Scout Unit: Cub Pack to ScoutsBSA Troop, one Troop to another Troop, like that, altho this is done "all the time", it shouldn't be. . The Unit's money is the Unit's money. Back in paleo-Scout time, my Troop would sell donuts (explained elsewhere here), but the idea of "Scout Accounts" never occurred to anyone. You wanted to go to camp? The whole Patrol might do a carwash at the church just for summer camp fees among the Patrol. One worked and saved up by doing extra chores at home. The Bank of Dadandmom held the account. The Troop Bank (!) might help discount the personal fees, but that meant just about the whole Troop was going to camp and each Scout (family?) still had to cover the rest. I do remember a story from another Troop whereby the Scout family applied for a campership, it was granted, the Scout went to SummerCamp , and when a problem arose, and the Scout's family had to be contacted, it was discovered they were at Disneyworld.... Please bear in mind, I am not an CPA, nor do I play one on TV . What I described above is how it was explained to me by Scout financial people. I hope I helped.....

""Show mw what a man makes with his hands that I may know his heart" = Amish adage = We are what we do, or don't do. No, I am NOT going to mention a fictional bi-pedal being......

I did not know that was a "doctor"....

Of course it matters. If the BSA isn't following it's own guidelines , there's a problem.. We got pandemic size lawsuits that attest to that. If the guvmint ain't following it's own guidelines, that's another problem. Both problems are problems. The BSA means well, it's goals and mission and methods have been proven worthwhile , if the carrying out has been faulty at times. Humanity has been proven consistant in only one thing: That it cannot, as a group, as a species,,,, learn from its historical mistakes; bad, cruel, destructive history , as the philosopher has said, WILL be repeated, if it is not learned from. Religion? Atheism ? Both human inventions. Both are therefore not perfect, but we try. Like Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton) says in "The Robe", Jesus cured the sick, made the blind to see, at least (implying Caesar Caligula's implicit guilt) He didn't cripple or blind anyone. So one's loyalty can be to The State, to your own humanity, and/or to some supernatural source for stuff we cannot ultimately explain, but darn it, small miracles (if not big ones) do happen..... Merlyn, you want whipped cream with your Peach Cobbler?

What friend Merlyn is saying is that, evidently, the BSA isn't following it's own guidelines. That appears to be the base problem. As much as I think it is wonderful that the Sea Scout program is a perfect fit with the USCGAux, it needs a bit of tweeking.... Perhaps the United States Power Squadron might be a better choice? https://www.usps.org/ Perhaps

Well, here we are again in the Faith and Chaplaincy forummmmmm. I suppose the big question is, is the Coast Guard Auxiliary really a US Government agency? (Named under the Homeland Security Department, appears yes) *Do the folks there receive a federal pay check? (yes and no. Upper organizers do, local folks are volunteers). **Or is the Aux agency only supported with federal "stuff".? (Appears, yes and no. ) ***Are dues paid by "members" for the USCGAux activities? ( most definitely. But for the volunteers and their support, there would not be a USCGAux. ) > > > > For instance, ScoutsBSA troops regularly visit and camp on federal property (parks, army bases, naval vessels, etc.) but that does not equate with the Scout units being "chartered" by any gov't entity. The US Coast Guard (semper paratus) is not the sponsoring agency.... It's the Auxiliary. But, the Aux is very closely linked . . . . It is NOT expected to be a Coast Guard Reserve, that is a different thing entirely. Then too, we can discuss whether atheism is a religion ( a belief system?) unto itself..... If so, then there is no reason why the BSA can't recognize the Humanist Society Youth Awards.... Howdy , Merlyn, glad to see you still up and around..... https://americanhumanist.org/get-involved/events-and-conferences/

AH yes, another Murlin Scouter heard from. Greetings from Mungmry County...... Yes, dry clean, especially non-carbona use. You can also contact the Smithsonian, they will advise on such things as preserving fabric artifacts. My story: I was my Troops first Eagle, 1963.... The Troop was founded in 1956 or so. I "grew up" and moved away. When I returned with Scoutson (very pleased he chose my old "home Troop") in 2006, I became a ASM and got active with the Troop. At a CoH, I thought I noticed something about the flags used. After, I inspected them, found the US flag had 48 stars! The Troop flag was cotton'wool ! Embroidered letters ! The halyard end had a date of 1956 ! When I mentioned all this to the SM and CCh, they were pleasantly surprised, and we moved to get a 50 star flag and a new Troop flag. The old ones are folded away in the Troop cabinet. No collections of patches, unfortunately, altho the Troop thru those years went lots of places and did lots of things.

Ah yes. OA. The Scout Honor Camper Society. Some few questions for y'all... 1) What, exactly, are the present minimum "official", Irving requirements for membership in the OA ? 2) After the Scout "qualifies", How would a Scout be chosen (join?) the OA ? 3) Why should a Scout aspire to be a member of the OA, assuming he/she is already satisfied (having fun?) being an "ordinary" Scout/Venturererer/Sea Scout? 4) What benefits accrue in being an Arrowperson? What responsibilities? 5) How come this thread hasn't been rerouted to the OA forum ? 6) Why is there air?

Considerations: I used to motorcycle in ALL weather. Invested in a Helly Hansen rain suit, it was worth it for that consideration. I can highly recommend their gear. Buy big and baggy, you do not want close to the body. Leave room for sweat, ventilation, extra layers for warmth when needed. Also helps protect against "road rash". Bright Yellow (only choice !). Poncho? I hiked the Camino de Santiago some years ago and carried a rain jacket (make sure it reaches BELOW your hips), which can be layered, and a big, over the pack poncho, and a pack cover. The rain jacket was good for sprinkles and showers but when I had to walk in serious rain, I covered my pack (keep the sleepbag dry !) and me. The exertion of serious hiking in humid warm weather (even cool weather) produced condensation under the poncho, but I was mostly dry. Hat: Broad brim (rain jacket hood under?) or ball cap (rain jacket hood over ?).... Bright colors ! One must LOOK for a poncho/rain jacket that is yellow, red, etc. WHY do they want to sell us black, darkblue, dark grey ? More concern should be for your boots. Long pants will let the rain dribble outside of your boots. Shorts and bare legs leads water INTO your boots. Then, it matters not if your boots are Goretex or water proof... Wear wool sox, stay comfy and warm even when wet. Cotton sox just get gushy. The constantly wet foot can lead to what the army calls "trench foot", you don't want that, even if it does take days/weeks to develop. Gene Kelly, not withstanding, you can sing in the rain.....

This was passed on to me, the link is reeealy long, but the story is worth considering .

Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford, IBM, Firestone, Standard Oil/I.G.Farben..... , , , ,

Congratulations..... My points for the new Eagles to remember when I am asked to speak at the Eagle CoH: 1) "The Work Is Done By Whoever Shows Up." Show up.... 2 When you find yourself thinking, "why doesn't somebody do something about that ?" BE that somebody.. 3) Your Scout experience and training has made you remarkably able . You will find yourself in situations where folks will point you out saying, "He can do that. Let's ask him." Smile and say "YES" as often as you can. Tell your nascent Eagles, I look forward to seeing them on the trail.

Even so... Points to be made. 1) God ain't making any more real estate. A sold camp will never be a camp again. 2) If in the big swing of things, two successful camps (well used, popular with Scouts, real Scouty programs) are better than three struggling ones, I can accept that. If the reasons for Stig's failure are LEARNED.... 3) How do the local zoning folks feel about it ? 3 acre estates? Club Med on the Erie? Quarter acre duplexes? Mixed Use, planned community like Columbia MD or Greenbelt MD ? Does it front on the big lake? CNG Port ?

What news? Who bought it ?

OK, now back to normal page size. Crisis over. Used the "options" zoom from 80% back to 100%.But I still don't know what was touched to led to this. Oh well, onward and upward.

How come I now have a side to side scroll bar and the whole home page (for instance) is not totally visible like before?

Waaaaaaallll, ah didn't even get thet fer, it dun quit on me an' weren't no sound fer to lissen to, no way.

Who decided the "supplies" were needed? Did the Scout point out their being needed there? Who developed the plan to raise the funds, order them, collect the crew necessary to install them correctly? Who would have done this, if not by a Scout's efforts? Perhaps the janitor? This is much different from a Scout noticing that a bridge over this particular muddy area on a well traveled park trail might be a good addition, go to the park department, offer to plan, arrange, gather materials, supervise the bridge construction and then get 'er done.

The "OUTING" in SCOUTING applies to everything else, without a classroom, pedagogical situation. THAT is Scouting's advantage. Math? Physics? Compass, mapping, rough surveying..... Electromagnetism? That's the compass, flashlights & batteries. Simple machines? Action reaction? Ropes and Pioneering and set up a tent/dining fly in the rain.... Psychology? Interpersonal relationships? outside of the family, dealing with "work to be done to survive (Patrol cooking? Duty roster? )", contests to test your skill? History? Citizenship, Patriotism? depends on where you take your hikes and camping. Biology? Naturestudy? Ecology? Camp sanitation, trees have certain purposes. Some burn better, some stay straight better. Birds can tell you things if you listen well . . . It is all involved. Why do we have to keep relearning all this?

Change in attitude... My mom grew up in Boston in the 1920's and 30's . Bus and interurban trains were her thing. When it came to visiting the city, we often drove to the local bus/streetcar terminal(20 miles away) and rode the car into the city to the museums (Washington DC.). No more streetcars, but DC had to fight to gain the Metro it so appreciates now. True story: One of my assignments before I retired was to close up the local bus service. Last bus came into the depot around 1:15am. One friday night, about 11pm, I answered the phone. Man's voice asks if I could answer some questions about using Metro. I said I'd be glad to, what was his question? He said his son was going from Colesville (a MD suburb) into George Washington University to attend a special "honors" class. I asked him, are you going with him? He answered "of course not !" "How old is your son? 14. Then shouldn't I be talking to him? . >>>Silence...... He said, just a minute.... A younger voice came on. "hello?" "Hello. You going down to GW tomorrow?" Yeah. Do you know how to ride the Metro? No. How did you expect to get there? . . . . . We had a good conversation, and I HOPE the kid got to his class and home successfully. It is multi block walk from the closest Metro station to GW's campus , which itself covers several city blocks....... When I was "walking the platform" in the Metro stations, I often saw sub teens , loaded with backpack, on their way to school mornings.....