SSScout

Maurice Chevalier please call your office. Aw, aw, aw,,,

I dunno, I just feel moved to post something that was used in another thread some years ago. This is the original, it is often "adjusted" to allow for certain sensitivities, but I always like to go back to the original.... Maybe not appropriate for a ScoutsBSA Troop SMMinute, maybe more appropriate for an IOLS or Wood Badge Scoutmaster Minute, or maybe an EDGE Training session, but worth putting away in one's back pocket, "just in case"... Within My PowerBy Forest E. Witcraft (1894 - 1967), a scholar, teacher, and Boy Scout Executive and first published in the October 1950 issue of Scouting magazine. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *I am not a Very Important Man, as importance is commonly rated. I do not have great wealth, control a big business, or occupy a position of great honor or authority.Yet I may someday mold destiny. For it is within my power to become the most important man in the world in the life of a boy. And every boy is a potential atom bomb in human history.A humble citizen like myself might have been the Scoutmaster of a Troop in which an undersized unhappy Austrian lad by the name of Adolph might have found a joyous boyhood, full of the ideals of brotherhood, goodwill, and kindness. And the world would have been different.A humble citizen like myself might have been the organizer of a Scout Troop in which a Russian boy called Joe might have learned the lessons of democratic cooperation.These men would never have known that they had averted world tragedy, yet actually they would have been among the most important men who ever lived.All about me are boys. They are the makers of history, the builders of tomorrow. If I can have some part in guiding them up the trails of Scouting, on to the high road of noble character and constructive citizenship, I may prove to be the most important man in their lives, the most important man in my community.A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different, because I was important in the life of a boy.

I always favor correct quotations. Here is the website to view the "official" , original version of this iconic poem: https://www.theguyintheglass.com/gig.htm

Wonderful. Included in our District News....

Okay, I am still confused by this... I had the impression that the Vanguard Scouts was to be "THE" official LDS Youth scouting type program. No? Is it only the Religious Award Oversight Committee? The LDS Youth Program is something different ? As a Scout Chaplain, a member of my faith Scouting Committee, Assistant District Commish and RoundTabler, who fields questions like this, I am just trying to understand the new world order here....

I would never try to disparage a faith's decision about how to teach their youth, but I too am confused... If the Vanguard International Scouting Association is the new "Scout" organization for the CoJCoLDS youth, why the claim that it is "approved" by the BSA? The BSA would never need to "approve" another youth organization. BP Scouts? Four H? Ambassadors? Campfire? Royal Rangers? None of them have sought BSA approval of any kind. If the LDS church (out of Salt Lake City, yes?) has divested itself of it's connection/approval etc. of BSA, and formed a new youth Scouting type organization, why the need to have (seemingly) two religious awards, ie, the "old " awards (approved for wear on the BSA uniform) and the new Vanguard awards? Are the Vanguard awards to be "approved" for wear on the BSA uniform? It's a Vanguard award. What happens with the "old" LDS awards? And, if it is allowed that LDS youth may continue their participation in BSA Packs and Troops (and earn ranks up to and including Eagle) , utilizing the BSA program unfettered by the old LDS adaptations, why the apparent desire to keep some "official" LDS connection with the BSA? Wow, a hyper achieving LDS kid could be a VISA, a GSUSA, a BSA member too ?

Polio, Tuberculosis, AIDS, Influenza, Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, Cholera, Bubonic Plaque, Whooping Cough, Lyme, Muscular Dystrophy, Cancer, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Malaria, Ebola, Dengue, Rocky Mountain Fever, Mumps, Measles, , , , A Doctor friend did a study of the headstones and records of our local graveyard. The earlier graves included many with dates indicating death before age five. There was a distinctive drop in childhood deaths about 1920. He decided it was due to success in medical treatments leading to the lessening of the incidence of Diphtheria and Measles and better sanitation overall. First the scientists must be convinced. Then the politicians and businessmen have to be convinced. The general public will be the eventual beneficiaries, but the individual cost is always high. Shall we add the movie "Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet" to our watch list ?

My favorite local restaurant still has peach cobbler (with ice cream), but you have to ask it to go, .

*sigh* another candidate for the Darwin award ; https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/12/us/woman-burned-fell-yellowstone-trnd/index.html

Parents not overly supervising their Scouts? Allowing, even ENCOURAGING them to go exploring on their own? Must be a new concept for some. For some... What a concept. https://www.atmuseum.org/1936-boy-scout-thru-hike.html

Once upon a time, I held the position of "First Assistant Everything Else". Even had a badge of office. My wonderful wife was the Cub Scout Day Camp Director. Son was a Wolf. (much later, an Eagle. Another story...) I went and got Archery Range Safety Officer trained, and "did the Range" many years. Scout Son even grew up to help. Later, his Troop wanted to do archery, so we arranged with a private Archery Club to visit their range (archery Merit Badge, among other things). They had Scout Leaders and abided with all BSA rules, so it was a good thing. Before we went, Scoutson asked me if he could do a Safety Talk with the Troop. I said sure, "you know my methods", I'll watch. He did a good job, but I thought he had neglected some items, so I interrupted and spoke up. Later that evening, Scoutson gently chastised me about how I had embarrassed him by publicly (!) interferring with his talk, that he had not yet mentioned the things I interjected. I realized what I had done, and promised not to be so "parenty" again. I tried hard not to. Scoutson became "THE" Totin' Chip Instructor for the Troop. Oh, and the Archery Camp was a large success.

The alleged Rule of 25 hasn't been around for awhile, if ever. As is often asked, "show where it is written". There are several Faith Awards that the BSA allows and to my knowledge, the named faith has few Charter Orgs, if any, listed in the BSA ranks. Deny Wiccan faith awards? Well, maybe not allow on the uniform officially. But again, where is the rule ?

I always liked the authoritative sound they made closing. Gotta practice my morse . . .

History that needs to be remembered. Here in Pandemic land, Ken Burns is a source of much enlightenment. His documentaries on the Civil War, Baseball, and specifically the Viet Nam War are well worth the effort. https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/

Oscar, right. Thank you for the correction. I guess it boils down to visual vs useful vs tradition. A uniform is meant to identify the wearer as a member of a group. Note the recent posting from our German brother Scout.

Aha... this changes things. The mom submitted the pics, not the Scouts? I am not familiar with some of the technology involved, admittedly. If you can say for certain the pics were taken in a certain way, perhaps you, not your Scout should approach the MBC.

This "debate" goes back to that debacle with Yve St. Larent (spelling? ) back in the 70's when for some god forsaken reason, the BSA decided they needed to "update" the uniform, and so asked that fashion decider, Mssr Larent to redesign the Scout uniform. The short sleeves gained cuffs, the no collar gained a collar, the pockets got smaller, the long sleeve shirt was (I think) abandoned, the material became softer and lighter (and more snag prone) and the necker shrunk from the usual (then ) 36" or larger (either fully square or on a side triangle) to a polite 24" on a side ONLY triangle. It became a cravat, a fashion accessory, rather than the possible tool previously mentioned. As a fashion accessory, the necker became superfluous, and gradually became "optional", rather than something a Scout might need to have. Slides/woggles became (at least for Cubs) a REQUIRED profit item. I wore one yellow necker and one Cub slide thru my 5 years of Cubs. When I joined the Troop, I was presented with the Troop Necker, a large one, with some ceremony. It was noted that the necker was designed by Scouts in the Troop and had some important history behind it. It identified the Troop at events. Need to have ? Did I say that? Yep. Originally, in Pleisticene Scout time, it was encouraged to wear the uniform (If your family could afford it) with the necker because it was a piece of expected, included gear in a Scout's kit. The whole uni was intended for camping, hiking, special events (patrol a parade?) , it was not intended merely as ceremonial. Then came YSL. I have an old book, "Matching Mountains With The Boy Scout Uniform" by Edward F. Reimer from 1929. It lists no fewer than 55 different uses for the necker, from identification in games (tie around the arm ) to first aid (sling, bandage, ankle support), to signal flag, dust mask (!), and horse bridle . Yes, the slide was intended to allow the necker to be QUICKLY removed for use. And some of the older slides in my collection are noticeably larger. That tradition, that historical reference (if not the actual utility) is what is lost when the necker is reduced in size and reduced to "optional". That red necker of my yoooth with the dusty boots labeled ""ALWAYS ON THE GO 759"" has several small tears and holes in it where it was turned into a wigwag flag or tied onto an ankle for Capture the Flag Tough cotton. Friendship knot? That I know was first intended to be tied low on the necker so the whole thing can be whipped off to trade with others at the World Jamboree, so I was told by a fellow some years ago. It lends itself for that purpose. Big Necker on Cubs? They can grow into it. We did. Small necker on Scouts and Scouters? It is a cravat, and on a tall man or woman, looks like . . . . a cravat, not a tool or tradition worn proudly to remind us of what Scout was and (as if it ever wasn't) could be again .

Ditto. There are too many ways this could be done. There are diplomatic ways to approach this, but your Scout should not be seen as accusing another Scout of not really "doing his best". If the MBC is worth his/her salt, they will ask the proper questions of the candidates. MBs are supposed to be a learning experience, yes? Once the blue card is signed, the MB is passed, no further discussion is proper. I would counsel my Scout to do HIS best , and be proud of his accomplishment. Maybe he will see his Scout buddies later and, around the campfire so to speak, discuss their techniques and approaches to the requirements. Encourage him to study the work of other successful photogs, Mathew Brady, Margaret Bourke-White, Edward Steichen, Ansel Adams come to mind.

Guten tag, wie gehts? Welkomen zu Scouter dot com..... In Germany, I could understand how someone of a certain mindset might try to connect a Pfadfinder mit die Hitler Jungen. Your unfortunate history needs to be remembered and dealt with. Here in the US of A, Scouting has sometimes been thought to be part of our military. It is important to politely disabuse (explain how it is wrong) that idea , both with words and actions. Ignorance must be forgiven, when possible, yes? Education is a blessing. The uniform should look different. Ours is decidedly not military, in my opinion. You should compare how your present uniform is or is not similar to that unfortunate "other organization", and try to adjust it thereby. Make sure your symbols are markedly different. It is well known that Hitler did not agree with the ideals of Scouting and actively suppressed it. His ideals were not Scouting's ideals. Make that plain. Let your life show that difference. I hope my comments have helped. Auf wiedersehn, sehe sie auf der spur ?

I ask for peach cobbler and get a request to participate in a political poll.

It's been a long time since I went down to Kensington and drove that stickshift Rambler around the National Guard Armory. Twice. I (used to) teach driving and safety to our new bus drivers before I retired, so I ended up teaching our Yearly Meeting Summer Camp counselor/bus drivers. Most of them had never driven anything larger than a Toyota Corolla, so it was a fun thing. I would set up cones in a big parking lot for a slalom course and manuevering practice. The scientific term is "proprioception", the ability to reach out and grab something : your brain knows where your arm/hand is, your eyes see/know where the glass of milk is, and makes that connection without conscious effort. Same thing in driving . Knowing where the bumper and wheel is in respect to the curb/wall/street sign/pole allows one to drive without hitting something and changing the shape of your motor conveyance .Many a cone was "killed". On The Road practice was a challenge sometimes, but the kid (!) would sometimes thank me afterward, teaching from the "Smith System" perspective. Repeat after me: "If it looks like a railroad crossing, I will treat it like a railroad crossing." Presto, so to speak, you have a Class B CDL with Passenger Endorsement. Good for a part time, fall back job, if your MA in philosophy doesn't work out. Over the years, I got to know which testing sites here in Murlin were busy, available, which had sympathetic examiners, which had examiners with chips on their shoulders. It takes some time to get really good, with the proper attitude , to be a safe driver, but it starts with the confident ability to aim your vee-hic-kull thru spaces just barely able to accommodate it. That said, I was amazed a few years ago to learn that Murlin would no longer require nascent drivers to demonstrate (!!) the ability to parallel park. My bus drivers would still be required to demonstrate that skill (with a forty foot long bus !)., but not the kid in the Corolla. Defensive driving took on a whole new meaning. I have seen driver training machines, but one must still do it in the real world. I had one trainee, a petite young woman, who became very good at everything I had to teach her. We went to the examining site and unfortunately it was pouring down rain. The examiner was very sympathetic, gave her every "break" as I watched. He stood out in the rain in his official slicker, but my student couldn't even SEE the cones to drive around, much less avoid them. We came back two days later and she passed all the tests easily. Virtual reality. We used to laugh about our bus system drivers inability to "phone their work in". Will our Scouts be allowed to "phone in" their outdoor experience?

"Snowplow " parents. I like that.....

Desert rat77: Amen to much of what you say. Please remember, too, the Scoutmasters and Cubmasters of that time (and before) were generally part of the "Greatest Generation", they had been thru stuff they did not want their kids to endure, but still wanted them to be able to endure. Yep, I slept under canvas, made my own tent/tarp of 8mil black plastic, duct tape and hand set grommets. totally enclosed, bug proof tents weren't readily available yet. 6-12 was used, alot. My M4 plywood packframe (Koean war surplus) weighs more than the whole pack our Troop Scout takes out for a weekend. The GI wool blanket I used for summer camp is mothproofed and still hanging in my closet, iron on name tag in the corner. Greenbar Bill's column spoke to the Scout, not to the Scoutmaster or Committee chair or COR. I read that.....

Well, perhaps he is trying to be true to the Scout Law. A Scout Is Clean, and there is nothing much cleaner than a disenffected key board.

A Scoutmaster in self quarantine ?