SSScout

As in all things Scouty, "the fault, dear Scouter, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves...." As we find the means to advance our Scouts in Merit Badges, and let those that counsel such to "allow" Scouts to slide on by ('eh, what's it matter".), and allow the standards of passage to slide... I was a temp teacher for some years, and (as always) my students often taught me... early on, I learned a new word: Gudnuf as in "Mr. SSScout, is this 'gudnuf'? " Even in Scouts, I came upon this new word: in Totin'Chip, "Is this tentpeg gudnuf?" In Pioneering: "Is this lashing gudnuf?" If the knot in the rope saves a life, yes, it was , indeed, "gudnuf" , but in testing, was it a correct ""BOWLINE"" ? SOMETIMES (sometimes), I was asked "Is this correct?" but not as often as I remembered from the teachers and mentors of my youth. When I have of late counseled Bugling MB, I am always surprised at the number of Scouts who will attend my class and come never having even HELD a bugle or trumpet, much less be able to play it. Discuss? Answer the requirements? Read the booklet (READ???) I have even had a Scout honestly (and I congratulated him on his honesty) tell me he attended my class in the hopes of a "sign off " for attending ! The requirements say "Play the calls". SURPRISE ! I congratulate the Scouts that can say they have EARNED all 135 Merit Badges. What a supremely well rounded young man, a true generalist, with knowledge and experience in so many fields of endeavor. I hope.

Document, document, document. If you wish, you might contact the Packs in the "other town" you mention. Have they had issues with her? Why did she pick your Pack? Such history may help you understand her issues, but cannot define your response. When you give (inperson, if possible, in sight of witnesses) her letter of expulsion, LIST everything you have observed/heard/read that was false or defamatory or destructive to your Pack and Cubs. Define clearly what this means. No attendance at any Pack/Den event. The Cub at continue in the Pack or transfer to another unit, no problem, but the PM must NOT be involved in anything of your Pack. Refer to the COuncil and the possibility that her Scouting participation may be totally banned if her behavior continues. Not a registered Scouter? Not the Pack's accepted/elected Treasurer? That should be enough for expulsion. Your COR and IH have the lead and must have YOUR back (being CCh). Problem Mom has problems , for sure, and it is sad when the child must grow up trying to deal with them. He will (we hope) grow up sufficiently to remember and be able to sort out her dynamics and how it colored his maturity. Am I missing something or has the Cub's father not been mentioned? Where is he in this mire? Stand your collective ground and smile as you hand her the letter. See you on the trail.

Oh, I have to agree on all the above. BL used to have Build it yourself, do it yourself, how to camp articles for every Scout from the Tenderest foot to the survivalist AT thru hiker. How to plan your own Troop's week long trek? How to make a tarp tent? Sharpen an axe? I do like Dr. Hawk's articles. Sometimes the super gear reviews, but it has become a millenial's read about rather than a go out and do type mag.

It is a New World. Back in my day, us student HSchool Stage Crew were expected to be available for AV duty most any time the office would call on us. Movie projector, slides, tape deck, plugs, we were trained by one of the shop teachers. We carried pliers, multi end screwdrivers, rigging knife and other stuff all day on our belt. We wired the stage lighting, cut and pulled extension cords, Klieg lights, set up and worked on 25 foot high scaffolds. I remember pulling out and replacing a defective wire rheostat , big sucker, must have weighed 20 pounds, on the light control board. Drama teacher ordered the replacement, me and my buddies did the installation. The school janitor ("Building Engineer") and us got along famously. Stripping off insulation just so from a "00" gauge cable....

Sorry to hear that. Time to fall back on the organizational chart. The Committee supports the program. The Cubmaster applies the program. If the Committee is happy with the program as led by the Cubmaster, no problem. If the Committee (not just the CChair) is not happy with the way the Cubmaster applies the program, hey, the IH and COR need to be brought into the conversation. In my book, here in this country, respect for the rest of the organization is important. If someone, ANYONE , complains about the way they are being treated, that needs to be addressed. And then, Brunch, you are a volunteer. And , remember, "the work is done by whoever shows up". And the way the work is done is therefore determined by "whoever" shows up. The IH, the COR, the Committee all need to decide if they want the present Cubmaster to continue "showing up". See you on the trail.

Sad, indeed. Back in the day, the local department stores all had a Scout Counter. Everything there you needed. I guess less was needed ! The more local the store, the more local the merchandise. Back then, the unit number was under a local Town Name and State ! . No "Council" strip. If you went to the wrong store, you might not be able to buy the right Town Strip. Each Troop/Pack often kept a supply of the numbers and town/state strips. Included in the dues...

Gentle Scouters: Beside the BSA regulations and standards of advancement and rank, You seem to forget that "All Scouting Is Local" I have known of Cub Packs who decided to end the madness. The Pack ALL wears ONE type of necker. The yellow traditional one. The various hats are another matter....

Packabrunch: Again, welcome to the virtual crackerbarrel (campfires melt electronics). All good suggestions. Metaphorically grabbing these two "kids" by the nape of the neck and telling them like it is will no doubt have repercussions, hopefully good for the Cubs. And THAT is what these two need to be reminded. They signed on , NOT to show up the other, or be mad or resentful or try to prove something, but to BE there for the CUBS. Ego trips, personal vendettas (any unresolved dynamics between these two?), perceived character flaws, whatever. They need to remember the GOAL is the Cubs program. Period. Pass the pie, please.....

All alliterative. Neat. Fixed blade vs folder.... It comes down to the need to: 1) Be useful. In the Panamanian jungle, yes, a machete on the belt might be useful. At Camp Runamuck, not so much. 2) Carve a wiffle stick (what did you call them?) for fire making, yes a fixed knife, maybe 4" blade can be useful. 3) Impress your friends, ("oh that is so cool! ") . Maybe, but at what cost to pocketbook, weight carried, awkwardness personified, legality, 4) Protection? A Boy Scout? Dundee not withstanding.... 5) Cuisine? Kitchen operation? Fish cleaning? Rabbit butchering? 6) Opportunistic need.... fingernail cleaning, toenail trimming, annoying tree branch elimination, shaving (!!), bear skin tanning, ,,, 7) Carve a woggle? WB Beads? Woodcarving Merit Badge? 8) Target practice? Yes, at CSDC, but must use the provided throwing knives. 9) Nice award for Old Scouter. Engraved and packed in a case?

Aviation Merit Badge included?

Well.... changes to IOLS are implied. Totin' Chip? Whitlin' Chip? The topic seemed to always come up, and was in my "Frequently asked Questions" section. That's EDGEFAQ, in BSAspeak.

Limited space? Make sure all have sufficient prior notice and opportunity. First come, first paid, first filled. Cubs alone? No. Gotta have parental escorts in any event, yes? Encourage the Family Camping, as noted by scoutldr. That said, if there is enough demand and interest, organize another trip!

Try again. I got an "Error" message about a minute ago. Any new "tool" takes some getting used to. Comments/nits to pick: 1) It is very pretty. 2) Things are too "light". I subscribe to a magazine (remember them?) that denotes it's pictures/insets in a smaller, lighter color type. Why? Same here. I do not like the light blue choices to click on. Hard to see/demark. The magazine uses light brown against a tan page (!!!). Why? Black, dark blue, even dark brown is fine. Light blue against white? Nahhhh. 3) Size/shape of icon/profile picture is not of much concern to me. Round is very democratic/equanimical. 4) Editing the essay is easy. Toggle away. 5) It is nice to know Scouter Terry (yes?) is so dedicated to our purpose. I know many Scouty folks here locally view if not participate on Scouter dot com because of my recommendation. See you on the trail.

There is nothing to the rumor that Pet Care MB is being combined with Cooking MB.

Nice to think one's "Secret Santa" has a cnote to spend on one. Howsabout a "Campaign" hat? Also known as a "Smokie Bear" Hat? "course, maybe the proper size might present a problem.

There ya go. Make a poll> I vote for the community strips. "Local Option" ? NCAC then Ashton MD ? Sleeve might then look like: ((seam)) Council Community Unit ### POR/Officer? "Trained" Would that work? Or do we need to require the Long Sleeve shirt?

In BSA charter parlance, the Institution Head is the person that is "in charge" of the Charter Organization. Church? the Pastor. Synagogue? The Rabbi. Volunteer Fire Department? The President of the Volunteer Corporation. Hardware store (yep, one of them!) owner of the store. The CORepresentative is expected to be a "member" of the CO, but need not be a Scout person, no need to have a Scout in the unit. Since no Public School can be a Scout Charter Org, the Principal should not be the IH. If the CO is the PTO, I would expect the PTO prez should be listed as IH. But then, very often, "whomever" is often listed (often) to get the paper work done for the DE's and Council's convenience and expectation. Why anyone would allow themselves to be listed in a position of responsibility and not be aware of it ("my name is WHERE??") and not be willing to attempt to "do the job" is beyond me, but COs of "convenience" are not unknown. "Yeah, I like Scouting, where do I sign, don't bother me any more...." "You said if I signed this, the Scout Unit would be OKAY and I wouldn't have to do anything else. Why are you bothering me now?"

Yep. Been there, done that. 5thgen, you are not alone in your anxiety, altho your "attacks" may be more than mere stage fright. Pro counseling has helped friends of mine. Sounds like there are two types for you. Being in a new group, and being the leader of the group. In the new group/situation, I am there to learn, to meet, to network perhaps. I am no better or worse than anyone else there. Stick out the hand and make someone else uncomfortable in meeting a stranger... If I am there to share my expertise, I find that knowledge of my purpose/topic, up down, back front, helps with my worry. The Lord will provide, so to speak. Rehearsal, both "real" in front of family, or a mirror even, can help. Mentally going over the stuff I will be presenting helps. Watching other presenters I admire helps. YouTube ! Do not be afraid to copy techniques and material. Bogart will not complain if you mention that "we don' need no steenking patches " one more time. If you can share a joke with a coffee buddy, you can share a Scout skill with 25 or 200 Scout buddies. You are here to help those Scouts be better citizens. I know you will do a good job. See you on the trail.

What part of the Scout Law and Scout Promise does the "cuss jar" requirement support or replace? Is such a by-law really necessary then? Discipline is often only seen as "punishment" for the transgression of a law. It is often forgotten that Discipline implies more importantly the personal requirement to do "right". There , see, the Scout Promise is the Discipline of the Scout. This is why the Scout Law has no "DO NOTs", but only "I WILLs". There is the difference . Most Adult Led Troops forget this. They become concerned overly with prevention, rather than creation. No "Boy " can possibly know what to do when. We must REQUIRE them to do what we adults think needs to be done when. The adults also forget the boys (soon to be girls too) have been watching and modeling their behavior after that of their parents and Scouters. Guess what? The Scouts will do what they see being done. What was that country-western song again? Bylaws assume that folks will not know HOW to do what is right. Hence, the Discipline must be enforced from without, rather than encouraged to be obtained from within. Of course, it has been observed that if all people are moral, then there is no need for laws and the requisite rewards and punishments. ""“The true test of a man's character is what he does when no one is watching.â€"" = John Wooden =

Back in 2005, I attended my first Jamboree. Came home with mucho patches, emblems, traded, bought, awarded, gifted.... Wife gave new red wool Jacshirt for anniversary gift (birthday was too far off). I collected the patches I wanted on the jacket, some more from days and events past, safety pinned them all in their respective places, and (realizing wonderwife was not about to help me sew them on), took the pinned up jacket to the drycleaners, who also had a tailoring business. She charged me $95. , which I considered a bargain for all the neat, tight sewing. Thread matched the patches. I think she liked Scouts. Side rant: I understand the idea of plasticizing the back of patches. It keeps them stiff and flat, but MAN, you just cannot stitch thru that stuff .... I even sewed some of my (boy) Scout patches on myself, back in the day, but not today !

A lot of teens don't want to be seen as "out of the group"... * ""A"" student. *Big on Science/Math/Biology/ Landscape Design *Wear.... turtle necks/Wide Jeans/Skinny Jeans/ Button Shirts/skirts * Walk to school *Drive to school * Long hair * Skin Head * Scout (??) And who do they ask when they need some rope, or some help organizing something, or need to operate the Prometheum screen or the stage light board or ... Be the group that a student wouldn't want to be out of..... Be the group that KNOWS how to fold the flag/march with it/ ... be your bunch of "specialist" geeks....

"" .... we can adjust the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity... for the next few hours, sit back and we will control all that you see and read... you are about to participate in a great adventure .... from the inner mind to ... the Outer Camporee.... ""

Troop/ Pack both originated in 1956. I didn't know it at the time, but it turns out I was one of the "charter" Cub Scouts. When Scoutson Eagled out, (2010) I became the Unit Commissioner . In watching flag ceremonies, I took the SPL aside aside and asked him to check the flags. They looked kind of "used" to me. He came back shaking his head, said the US flag was a 48 star flag ! And the Troop flag "didn't feel right". Turned out it was a cotton/wool blend ! They were the original flags since the founding of the Units! Well, since they were about to get a new Scoutmaster, we decided to get new flags and present the old ones to the exiting Scoutmaster. We couldn't locate any of the (really)past Scoutmasters, even tho they were planning a 60 something anniversary party. The new flags were "embroidered".

** I think I know a few older folks who wish THEY were "youth shaped"

"Rent-a-Scout". Handbills, list of possible services:: leaf raking, brush clearing, car washing, house vacuuming, trash hauling (anyone have a pickup?) , .... You might even consider more skilled jobs like fence painting (Tom Sawyer anyone?) , also good for PR purposes, local TV, Newspapers, Facebook? Mention your goal is a special trip, or charitable effort (hurricane relief?) Check with the State Highway folks. Set up a coffee and donut stand at a rest stop on the Interstate. Be sure to include a prominent banner about your unit, etc.