SSScout

Yes we can. But, again, I find it interesting how "outside" folks like to view the "inside" folks. In Utah, is there a "LDS Legacy Corridor" ? Mmmmmmaybe not. When I noted to the MD SHA folks that one of their new QLC signs pointed in the wrong direction, they thanked me. That was three weeks ago, the sign still points AWAY from us. Oh well. Freezing rain tonight, gotta cancel the big potluck amateur talent show.....

Phone? Que es Phone ? I get emails, and have to remind the Scout to copy to another Scouter for YP requirements...

The fellow was catching fat trout after fat bass. An onlooker asked him how he was so successful, The fellow handed him a pampthlet that advised using worms and to " keep the worms warm." The onlooker asked, "and how do you keep the worms warm?" the fisherman smiled and said " thath eathy. Keep'em in yer mouf."

Books . . . . I was once asked to suggest an activity for Lion or Tiger Den. I suggested, why not read a story to them, say a chapter a meeting? A classic adventure story, Treasure Island, Jungle Book, even Profiles in Courage. The Den leader looked at me like I was speaking Chinese...…. I can think of no better way to quiet down a class (Den?) then to read to them. Appropriate voices and inflections as one is able. Pictures optional. Make it worth while, a reward for accomplishing the cleanup. Ten, maybe even 15 minutes of sit down and rapt attention, it is worth practicing. I have no fast statistics about this, but I just feel that today's parent doesn't read to their kids like our mom and pop did to us. Or at least to me. When I was judged old enough, I received a BIG GOLDEN BOOK of the Illiad and the Odyssey. What words I did not know, I learned. That book lies on the shelf downstairs waiting for the Gchild to be old enough. I was read to , eveynight before bed, and at odd times and to help with school work. I remember my elementary teachers, Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Wetzel, Mr. Prentiss.... even in 6th grade, we were read to, as a reward of sorts, to relax after the hard play of recess to help settle in for Math.... Why not read to your Scout? "Twas seven o'clock of a very warm evening in the Seeonee hills when Father Wolf woke up from his day's rest, scratched himself, yawned, and spread out his paws one after the other to get rid of the sleepy feeling in the tips. Mother Wolf lay with her big gray nose dropped across her four tumbling, squealing cubs, and the moon shone into the mouth of the cave where they all lived. "Augrh!" said Father Wolf, "it is time to hunt again"; and he was going to spring downhill when a little shadow with a bushy tail crossed the threshold and whined: "Good luck go with you, O Chief of the Wolves; and good luck and strong white teeth go with the noble children, that they may never forget the hungry in this world."

Books.... see the other CUB thread....

Again, ""the work is done by whoever shows up". What I hear is the drum beat of the present age. Service clubs (Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, etc. ) are seeing fewer young folk show up, see the NEED to show up. PTAs often see/hear the parents want the "best" for their kids, but that's for the teacher, the coach , the youth pastor to take care of. I think the souls active on this electronic typing practice page for the most part came from families , parents, that jumped in and saw the need to BE parents, to set an example of community activity for their kids. I still meet folks who knew me growing up, and who are/were the Lions, Kiwanis, that ran the annual fundraising festivals, dinners, movie nights,,,, Our hospital was built on ham and turkey and fried chicken dinners,, and the chicken didn't have far to walk to get to the dinner table. Our VFire dept was built by waffles and creamed chicken. Such things are mostly funded now by regular fees and tax money (the volunteers and pro-fire fighters have learned to respect each other, grudgingly). The Woman's Board for the hospital raised millions (with an M) of dollars with the annual Bazaar and Picnic. When the new hospital (which replaced the old one that had been thrown up thru community efforts with the 1918 flu epidemic) was opened, and the new Director announced proudly that they should be justly proud of their efforts and accomplishments, he was loudly lauded. When he suggested that the Woman's Board and it's picnic was therefor no longer needed, he was "resigned" within 6 months. The new new DIrector said he "liked fried chicken". The annual Hospital Bazaar is still a "big thing" around here, but the service clubs and such scratch for the folks to make it run. Tons of fried chicken and corn are still served up, but very little (if any) comes from close by and the cooks are all from the hospital kitchens. It is the children and grand children of the original folks that make it run and recruit the more to make it run. It doesn't seem "automatic" anymore. The Scouts and kids that help EXPECT Student Service Hours, it's not done because it's "fun" or done to be seen or meet your friends and feel good about being a help. It seems the few kids that learn to make change selling snow cones and sodas have come with the parents who came with THEIR parents, many years ago. I still look for my old friends, but when they come, their kids don't.

Usta be Summer camp: Camp Director , on wednesday, requires anyone who wants dessert (special peach pie ! and Ice cream !) MUST present themselves at dinner bell with at least wet hair, betoken of having taken a shower before. Name list on shower house porch is checked by a Counselor as the kids come out...… So at least, the camper came "close" to the water and soap.

I am sure the chart exists but I learned it by listening : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7w_ZqF2wpU and from Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion. : Because of the limited range and at the Bugler's discretion, such can be played "businesslike" (get it over with, time to go home) or can be made as evocative and thoughtful as the player is capable of. Quick and dirty, or displaying the talent . Melancholy? Absolutely. Nothing wrong with that , appropriately so. I remind my "students" that Buglers are musicians too. AND,,,, they are learning a "foreign language", it communicates ideas, emotions. How conversant can one become in this "language"? Echo it thru the woods some time and listen . . .

Tripod lashing (Scout Pioneering camp gadget requirement) tripod about 5 feet tall. . Gallon milk jug dangle from tripod with appropriately long rope. On other end of rope, dangling is a nylon mesh bag (kneehigh stocking? Cherry tomato bag? ) of soap chips collected from Whitlin' Chip instruction/earning (camp out activity?) . draped over tripod is old, big colorful beach towel (mine is the Suncrest Raisins, always a hit). Tip jug, rub hands, tip jug, wipe hands. Fun. Place someplace where the drainage is not a problem, NOT adjacent to the hydrant, outside the latrine. Assign/rotate duty to refill jug. Den Chief project? Good in any but freezing weather.

Oh, it definitely has other value. Scoutcamp will often pay you more if you are a Bugler. Bugles Across America is a clearing house for Buglers needed for ceremonies (taps over veteran's burials, for instance) where there is an honorarium paid. Local notoriety can lead to being asked to play at various ceremonies. Being able to play "open valve" leads to greater skill on your original (trumpet? cornet? trombone? baritone?) instrument. I played for my Wood Badge course , and I had folks thank me directly for playing "Tatoo" in the evening. Taps , it seems, was expected.

Our Aussie Scout brothers and sisters have a new patch. Proceeds to go to fire victims support and rebuilding. READ THE FINE PRINT ! Postage/delivery cost internationally is the same whether you order 1 patch or 100. Package/courier delivery fee is expensive, but I am told it is to guarantee the package gets to you. Might ask your Scoutshop to order a supply? Gather a bunch of orders? https://scoutshop.com.au/products/bushfire-badge

A DE’s Lot (with apologies to Msrs. Gilbert and Sullivan) When a DE’s not engaged in his employment (his employment) or planning to go camping with his Troop (with his Troop) his capacity for innocent enjoyment (-cent enjoyment) Can easily be knocked off for a loop (for a loop) Our feelings we with difficulty smother (-culty smother) When a DE duty’s to be done (to be done) Ah, take one consideration with another, (with another) A DE’s lot is not a happy one. Ooooohhhhh… When a DE’s duty’s to be done, to be done, Then a DE’s lot is not a happy one. When the helicopter parent is not hov’ring (is not a hov’ring) When the Scout is not a-cutting off their thumb (-off their thumb) He loves to hear the bug-a-ler a-bugling (bugler bugling) And enjoy his tea while sitting on his bum (on his bum) When the District has finally decided (has decided) Where the Camporee should sit on weekends yet to come (yet to come) Ah, take one consideration with another (with another) A DE’s lot is not a happy one. Ooooooohhhhh, When a DE’s duty’s to be done, to be done, , His duty , sure, is often not a happy one. (happy one).

There ya go. It is my opinion that THAT is the reason most DEs become DEs. They originally want to be SCOUT Scouters, to help give the (youth) Scouts opportunities, to be examples and role models for the vast number of volunteer Scouters. When they discover they are judged on things other than that, and being paid less than they are (we hope) worth, they move on. We have a "real DE" in our District and we treat him as such. He answers emails, phone calls, visits our Roundtable, camporees and even IOLS sometimes. AND he is about to be married !

Cautionary tale: Before I retired from County Gov service, I met and was inspired by a man who I will call "Dave". Dave was in charge of planning and was the go to fellow for just about everything. What he said got done, what he signed off on was Okay, He negotiated contracts with private entities, oversaw mapping of routes and was not above calling folks "out in the field" to get eyeball information and opinions. He had a staff of three, and they were kept busy. When he retired, TPTB revamped his section, added THREE section heads, maybe 8 more staff, and totally redefined who did what when. Made things a lot harder to get things corrected or done. It became hard to find who was responsible for what duty or project. I came away thinking it was because we had just had a new Department Head named, and he felt somehow jealous of Dave's respect and personal assumed responsibility .

Oldscout and I turns out we were sort of neighbors. Met at a local place, Dempsey's, to get acquainted. Coffee and peach cobbler is always good. Scouty stuff makes it easy to recognize a brother Scouter.

About ten years ago, I once witnessed a DE being asked by a new Cub leader if he (the DE) would come to their meeting and speak to the new parents. His response was (quote) "I don't do that. I have people who do that. " He meant the District Commissioner(s), of which I was at the time one. The Cub leader was angry, rightfully so, and we talked later. That DE was gone in about 6 months. Is this National's attitude in a nutshell?

Tag this a Faaaaith and Chaaaaaplaincy issue, eh? There is at least one fair sized church nearby that was named the "XYZ United Methodist Church", long history in the community, charters a very well known and active Scout Pack and Troop . Only a few years ago, the signs quietly changed to read "The XYZ Church" . Still Scout friendly.....

Cub Scout Day Camp. Our Council required a certified RN or PN or EMT for Medical Officer. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. We once had a Cub who refused to drink anything that did not have a sweet flavor. The first day, our Director and MO consulted, and called the parents and told them, either the Cub drinks plain water, or YOU stay with him thru camp and provide the sweet liquid or he goes home. He did not return the next day. My prime suggestion, keep a good log. Note every visit from Johnny Cub, Ms Parent or Janey Sibling. Even to say "hello". Note the time, the name and the why and the what happened. Saves trouble and scratched heads later. AND it is probably a legal requirement.

Way to open an old thread. Last weekend, MBCollege in Elkton MD. Ten would-be buglers. All said they played in the school band, all brass players. One said she (!) "used" to play trumpet in the band, and thought she might sign up again when her schedule "allows" No future Wynton Marsalis' but everyone has promise. I could not in good conscience pass anyone, more's the pity, but since this Council schedules (!!) TWO weekends a month apart, I encouraged and instructed everyone, and I know with some practice, everyone of them can do it. Nice philosophical discussion with a senior, nascent Eagle.... Five, maybe six notes in the scale, ya gotta be able to hit all of them. Of note : Two young women !

"Sold South", "sold down the river". Y'all need to follow the drinkin' gourd.....

Yes, Akela (!) is the parent, the CM, the DL, …. When I was a CM, I had both types of parents in the Pack. The "give it to the Cub because he tried, no matter what", and the "when the Cub accomplishes it, he will get the award " type. Back then, we had the Cub Scout Promise and the Law of the Pack. The whole enchilada Scout Promise and Scout Law had not been put to the Cubs yet, that was years ahead. I ALWAYS put it to the Cub, "did you enjoy earning this beltloop/elective/badge?" and the Cub would usually give things away by how he reacted. I was once phoned by a parent who wanted her urchin to earn a particular elective. I asked, shouldn't I be talking to the Cub? I can talk to him at the next meeting. Oh, she said, I'll pass him for it by then. I wanted to know what I should tell him about it. I said have you read the requirements in the (rank) book? It is pretty self explanatory, either he does it or he doesn't. Have him read it to you. Oh, she said, I never let him read it himself, he wouldn't understand it.... I let it go at that, I was not going to ask about his "disability" over the phone. It comes up in other venues, too. The CSDC Director who "assumes" that teaching a knot is the same as knowing how to tie and use the knot, for instance ("no, we did NOT learn eight knots. We LEARNED four."). The Scout who attends a Merit Badge "class" at a Saturday MBCollege and is surprised when he can't simply walk off with the Blue Card signed by virtue of his sitting thru a "class" ("prerequisites? Oh, that attachement to the registration thing? My mom read it. She didn't tell me anything". ) Then you meet the Scout who you overhear tell his dad that it's okay, he'll learn it himself next campout.

" . . . and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf." Perhaps I am misguided, but , again, I might expect a parent/guardian to provide a positive reference. To send a negative , or to refuse to send any letter at all ("what's a letter? One of those old things on a piece of paper? ") as a parent is very sad. Then too, the Scout needs then to think about who would think highly of her/him. There is no requirement for any specific number of references, and if none are sent and received by the Ebor, would that mean the end to the Eagle Candidate? Is one letter sufficient? Is 18 too many? I have served on only a few EBoR, and have never seen any but "glad to speak of this young man" letters, from teachers, employers, clergy, Scout Leaders.... As I think about it, I can't remember reading one from a parent.....

?Que? Why would a parent want to write a "recommendation" letter? Wouldn't we expect that be ipso facto a wonderful, slightly prejudiced opinion? Teachers, employers, clergy, camp counselors, neighbors, old family friends perhaps. I once asked my supervisor at work if he would write a recommendation for me to grad school. He did, with the proviso that he would only show me a part of it. He privately said he thought I was a good candidate, but not for the subject for which I was applying. Another story.....

As the resident Quaker Scout Chaplain, I note with chagrin the discussion occurring about our friends the LDSs self removal from the BSA fold. What are/were their official reasons? Unofficial reasons? Does it matter? What recognition, distinction, respect for such things is appropriate? My Quaker Meeting, here in Sandy Spring MD , dates back to at least 1753, making our congregation one of, if not the oldest congregation in our county. As Friends Meetings go, we are rather large and active. The Friends (European white settlers) came to our area before 1730, seeking new undepleted soil to farm and land where native Americans did not live (altho the Algonguin trails led thru the area). Family story: One summer, we went on a road trip up thru New York, Niagara Falls and thru the Midwest ,, visiting family. Stopped in Binghamton NY for lunch at a Subway shop. Poster in the window: QUAKER DAYS FESTIVAL ! Asked the clerk, what is this? "oh, the town was founded by Quakers, we have a parade, a fair, games, it's lots of fun !". Great. Where's the Meeting House? "what's that?" The town police cruisers have a broadbrim hatted profile on the door. Later research found Binghamton Meeting (small and active by our standards) more tolerated than actively supported the festival. I often marvel at the seeming irony with which we, Quakers, are treated. Examples: About 1975, I read in our local newspaper that the county government was going to encourage tourism (!money!) by dividing the county into three areas for promotion: Agricultural Heritage (we now have a Farm History Park, very nice and an Agricutural Reserve area for land zoning), Industrial Heritage (the C & O Canal, various mills ), and . . wait for it . . The Quaker Heritage Area.... Well, this was news to our Meeting. I'll not bore you with the back and forth that ensued. A very nice museum was created from a local historic stone barn and MOST of it they got right. It was even renovated under the direction of a very talented architect member of our Meeting, but he did not curate the exhibits. Mores the pity. Ongoing discussions will eventually correct the few, small but important errors in the exhibits. They did consult with "Scholars" but not with us, not 3 miles away. Now, we drove home from a more recent (last month !) vacation trip, and lo, there was a new sign. Actually, there are several new road signs, vis: "Quaker Legacy Corridor" with directional arrows. Guess where they point? Inquiries to the State Highway Administration ( thank you for the new notoriety) garnered the response "thank you for your question. We will research the origin and reason behind the mentioned signage". And, yes, the State decided that mentioning such "history" was good for the driver who might not have Quaker History cross his/her mind as they travel thru our eastern provinces. The agency folks were invited to come and meet with our Meeting and discuss their work, (potluck lunch after !) but so far, the State folks have demurred. Now, to be fair, there are other faith sites noted around (Catholic Shrines, LDS Temple, etc.) but not the sort of official signage I mention. We haven't seen much in the way of Catholic or Jewish Legacy Corridor yet, but I'm keeping an eye out.

Well, sounds like an appropriate opportunity to shift this over to the Faith and Chaplaincy section.