SSScout

'"""Hath not a (insert human group) hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a (insert your own human group) is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? """ = W. Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice (adapted) =

Absolutely. But after you have the Troop up and hiking , so to speak, then one must be "visible" and "available". Word of mouth? Certainly the femScouts need to be out there doing stuff, helping people, wearing Scout shirts and caps. Need a sign out front of the Meeting Place. Article in the local paper, community Facebook pages, posters up in school... oh wait.... But I totally agree. The founding of the Troop needs girls out for the adventure, the "Game". The " Purpose" is not necessarily their view, their desire, that's from the parents perspective initially. The Scout may see the "Purpose" later as they mature. After the Troop is doing the Scout Thing, then you need the recruiting stuff for the continuity. .

"""The Humble, Meek, Merciful, Just, Pious and Devout Souls, are everywhere of one Religion; and when Death has taken off the Mask, they will know one another, tho' the divers Liveries they wear here make them Strangers."""" #519. from “Some Fruits of Solitude” 1682 = William Penn (1644-1718) -

Yep. Been there had to do that. Anything that a Scout wears, could wear , is REQUIRED to wear, that is small, metallic and "pretty" is considered "Children's Jewelry" by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. They require that any such stuff be tested and certified that the item(s) be free of lead and other toxins. "Because they are small and pretty and might go in the mouth and be chewed on by the child." (that is the explanation we were once given). This involves an expensive procedure for either each individual item, or the total production run of the item. Religious Awards, Eagle medals, year stars, activity pins, beltloops, Awards of Merit, summer activity cub pack pins, metal necker woggles, you name it. Our Scout Faith Committee had to trash a bunch of older medals rather than have each one tested SEPERATELY, and opted for a new, certified production run. Sometimes the CPSC catches up with folks (like BSA and our Faith Committee) that deal in "children's jewelry" and request the certification paperwork. If it is not forthcoming, Bam, the woggle/pin/medal gets pulled from the shelf and somebody is called on the carpet. The manufacturer hopefully. Presto, a new collectable with a back story is created. Don't worry, Silver Beaver medals are "adult jewelry" and are not considered hazardous. Adults don't chew on their jewelry (?) .....

Sleeping on a cot is fine, summer time the air flow is good. cold weather, put a foam pad on the cot, there's your insulation. Sleep bag on the pad. Bob's yer uncle.

The girls that join ScoutsBSA do so because 1) GSUSA do not provide what they want. 2) Their friends (already in ScoutsBSA ) invite them, they give the newbies the "example" to look at. 3) their parents suggest/insist/lead them to ScoutsBSA as the parents are already in/have been Scouts before. 4) they have a sibling/cousin that is in ScoutsBSA and the prospective newbie looks and thinks "that's what I'd like to do and be.... OUTDOORS, getting dirty, learning about ropes and tents and poison ivy and boating and.... THEREFORE: ** What is YOUR ScoutsBSA program? Do you do tea party/fashionista/cookie selling ? Or do you go out and "get dirty" hiking, canoeing, camping, rock climbing? Sure, GSUSA promotes leadership etc. and if they have the right female (!) leaders, the girls might get outside more (it is a difference in philosophy, ultimately), but THIS is what the ScoutsBSA is about, always was should always be. THAT is what your adult leadership should promote and offer. And then step back and let the girls respond like I heard in a newly minted PLC one time : " You mean I can make that decision ?" Well, yes, YOU can. Recruitment ideas ? there they are . . . And like my previous Scouter noted, the parent and the kid often see Scouting in two ways... fun, adventure, accomplishment, self confidence, skill //// Leadership, citizenship, career application checkbox, responsibility learned, .... Scout Promise, Scout Law is taught , often unconsciously along the way. All the better. See you and yours on the trail.

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.