SSScout

Yep.  I agree  with everything you note.   

All Scouting is Local, after all, but that does not mean thatthe local Council and Nashunal shouldn't be putting stuff out on TV, , Facebook, etc.  

If nameless couples can get traction telling stupid jokes, why can't various Scout folks do various videos. Even recycling oldies but goodies :  

Who Will Buy ?

THIN MINTS ! SAMOAS !! LEMONOES !!!

""""Who will buy this wonderful gluten?

Such a cookie you never did see

Who will wrap it up in mylar?

And put it in a box for me

So I could eat it at my leisure

Whenever things go wrong

Or try to keep it in my freezer

To last my whole life long ?

Who will buy this old Girl Scout Cookie??

It's so good, my glucose is high,

Me oh my, I guess I won't eat it,

So what am I to do

 to keep this box so blue?

There must some place it can hide ? ? ?

Water balloon battles are not a good idea, UNLESS... you promise to count, then pick up and account for ALL the rubber balloons that are used, so they do not become a threat to wildlife trying to eat them. Truism....

"PATROL " method, or "TROOP" method,   or "ADULT " method ?

Again, welcome to our campfire ring.

Used to be,  back in Paleo Scout time, one could not "work" on a given rank until one had "earned" the preceding one.  That changed when TPTB realized that there is no harm in LEARNING a skill or knowledge prior to DEMONSTRATING it for rank requirement passing. This led to the allowing of passing a rank requirement whenever it can be done.  Sign off in the book....

Much of Scout rank is classroom stuff, yes?  Learn the Scout Promise, etc. That can be passed on (earned) whenever ready. 

No harm in learning knots, fire safety, camp cooking early on.... More time to practice and get good at them.  Would you deny a Scout the ability to ID POISON IVY just because plant ID is not in his next rank requirements? 

I knew a Scout in our home Troop, really nice kid,  led, taught, went on adventures, did not receive his second class OR first class until he was corraled by the Scoutmaster and ASM , and sat down to earn and sign off all the in between stuff.  At one CoH, he was awarded (at age 15) (in proper order)  Second Class, First Class and Star.... He did eventually earn his Eagle...

More importantly, is your Scout ENJOYING his time in Scouts?  

Personally, I do not favor "New Scout Patrols", I would rather see the newbies absorbed into the regular Patrols (traditional Patrol Method) for the older Scouts to then take under their wing. Natural progression of serving as a patrol member, then being a leader in any and all capacities, but that's just me. 

Stand back and watch that Scout soar.

See you on the trail....

3 hours ago, RememberSchiff said:

 

Settlement terms also include the Boy Scouts not using "girls" before "scouts," and not doing cookie fundraisers. The Girl Scouts can't do any fundraising involving popcorn.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/girl-scouts-and-bankrupt-boy-scouts-settle-trademark-dispute-271658794860

My Troop used to  sell  donuts.

Welcome to the virtual rant circle, er, I mean CAMPFIRE...

You will find this bunch of Scout fanatics well worth knowing.  The past files are worth digging into, if you have a particular topic to discuss.

Cub Scouting....   I was a Scout back in Paleo Scout days. Worked on my Eohippus Husbandry Merit Badge, but did not complete it.  My good wife knew of my Scout history, but her sons, my now stepsons, had been turned off to Scouting by their dad, mores the pity.  When our new son came along, and came of age, I was pleased that he decided to join the local Pack, and much to my wife's surprise, she became involved early on and eventually became the Cub Scout Day Camp Director, which made me the "First Assistant Everything Else" (that was my title !).  Son staffed a Jamboree, crew chiefed TWO Philmont treks and earned his Eagle. 

Be careful, my friend, it can become addictive, despite the current travails and course corrections. 

You want eWhipped Cream on your virtual peach cobbler? 

Wait a min...

 More echarcoal....    recipe calls for .... 18 ebriqs on the lid.... 

Yes, but.....

""Neoprene socks, the longer you wear them the stronger they get....""

Well said, ED...   

Getting the Scout (the adult?)  to buy into the Scout Law and Promise as ideals that can ACTUALLY (actually!) apply for the good in one's life can be hard. 

I had a p/t job once as a carpenters helper. My crew chief was a crusty old carp, the kind that knew how to frame a roof by calling down the dimensions to a cutter on the ground and getting the right slant on top. We had just finished a frame up on the first floor of a house, he came up looked around, said' "stretch your tape here" indicating the diagonal, corner to corner, and then for the other diagonal. An inch and a half difference in the twenty plus foot lengths. He told us to take out the one wall and rehang it. "Why?" asked one of our crew. "after the drywall, plaster and paint,  who's gonna know?"   "He said 'You and I would know... Take it down and redo it."

In today's world of "believe me" and be rewarded by me....   to what are we loyal? Not to who.... 

15 hours ago, Oldscout448 said:

Umm, that was taken out near 50 years ago, my friend.  

-  .  - -  .- -.  . .-  . . .     . .-.  . .-  --.  ..  -

Oh, how well I know....   

2 hours ago, Eagle390 said:

 Seems at lot has changed in the last 25 yrs. 

Oh, you got that right.    No  Morse Code or signaling required for First Class, among other things.....   Mostly for the best.... 

AND... Welcome to the forums, where you will either be entertained, or confounded...  (what happened to Merlin?).  

You want virtual whipped cream with your ePeach Cobbler?  

Pursue. Document.. Keep good records.  Call, phone. Email. Send real letters.  Remind folks of the Scout Promise and Law.

I had served as Chaplain in two previous Jamborees to good effect.  Approval of my faith's Scout Committee, support of my congregation.  I had thank you letters.  Third Jamboree, I was emailed that "you are not to be a Staff member. This is not appealable.  Have a good day".    No reason, no person to contact .  For the next two months, I collected names at National . I had some very good people write letters of recommendation.  18 of them. Scouters of no small repute, employers, school principals, politicos that knew me.  To no avail. National fellow finally told me that all Jambo staff are "vetted" by their home Council, and that I had been given a less than stellar rating. ?how so?  By whom?  They never told me, but his "opinion" was that I had somehow "made an enemy".  Did not the reference letters indicate the mistake/falsity of this "vetting rating"?  No, they would not change the decision. This time....  I did not serve on that Jamboree, but guess what?  The next time, they changed the vetting requirement. No problem that time..... and then came the Pandemic....  

Be polite. Be honest. Be logical . Do not lose your temper, ever. Refer to past things. (records? ) Be  persistent.  

See you on the trail....

We no longer have "big" miracles, only small ones to remind us of how/why/what. 

In the "right place" , at the "right time", with the "right skills" , with the "right attitude".....

Aw, it's just a co-incidence....   

I don't think so.

Otherwise, howcum the detective always finds a parking space RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SCENE OF THE CRIME ? 

When wife and I go someplace, and we find our parking space RIGHT THERE.... I know we are supposed to be here. 

5 hours ago, 5thGenTexan said:

 Next summer we are doing something uhhh, different   

.....completely different?   

A boy named sioux ranger::::

You were in the right place at the right time with the right training and attitude ....

There is no such thing as coincidence.....

AND... what were you doing out on a lake in a boat at age 14 without (two deep) adult supervision ? 😉

Someone had a good time and wanted to remember it. 

The point that is often missed and has been forgotten is WHY  Scouting was created. WHY Dens, WHY Patrols..

It is a natural phenomena for kids to create "gangs", "clubs" among themselves.   In a neighborhood, a school,  a bunch of cousins,,,  the kids will gravitate together for ball games, recess running around, jungle gym climbing....    These "gangs" will find natural leaders among themselves, some kid (girl or boy !) that , by dint of will, becomes the axle around which the other kids  rotate. If this "leader" has a poor example at home, if they glory in the attention they get by doing "SOMETHING", that  something might become the excitement of hearing broken glass, or seeing mailboxes clatter when hit by a baseball bat, or something worse. 

The Scout Den, the Scout Patrol was traditionally the neighborhood school group.  You saw them at school, you saw them across the street and you met in each other's backyard or basement recroom. Together, you visited the firehouse, the movie house, the bowling alley. You visited the park, hiked the trail together, found out what Poison Ivy was (the hard way). The moms and dads took you and your buds to the county fair together, to the school dance, the football game.  You grew up together. 

When Scouting became a BLING concern, this formal/informal "gang" idea went by the wayside.  The BLING was originally a means to a purpose. "A game with a purpose. " The kid Scout gained skill, pride of accomplishment in constructive ways to gain attention.   Only as an adult do we (I ?) now see, realize this purpose. Our parents , maybe unconsciously, realized the idea of giving us a GOOD gang to belong to, rather than the "other" kind. 

THAT is what Cub Scouts need to be about. The "GOOD GANG", but  for heaven's sake don't tell your kids that....  All the kid needs to know is that because of the way the parent treats them, they love the Cub. Why? Because the parent takes them interesting places, does fun, interesting things with them. Applauds their successes  (BLING !) and helps them thru their trials ( Do Your Best !).   For many a parent, Cub Scouting is as much their education as it is the Cubs. 

That is what you need to show the Cub.  The fun stuff.  That is what you need to show the parent. The REAL fun stuff, seeing your Cub smile at overcoming new childsize challenges (tie a bowline?) and the parent realizing that this young future citizen will soon enough be overcoming larger challenges (what Assisted Living Facility to put mom in?)....

See you on the trail....

 The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad spent the better part of the last 8 years (!) rebuilding the largest Mallet articulated steam loco east of the Missississippi. 1309 was a museum exhibit at the B&O Museum. It was transported to the shops in Ridgely WVa and disassembled and checked over by the dedicated volunteers and professionals. And then somebody decided all that old steel and bronze and brass would tally up to some bucks as scrap metal.... 

""In February 2018, the restoration project suffered another setback when the railroad learned that an employee had stolen parts, including bronze bearings and wear plates, and sold them for scrap at a salvage yard.^[14] The thefts were discovered by the Allegany County Sheriff's Office after they were alerted by the scrap yard.^[14] Stolen parts included 12 original crown brasses and 12 hub liners. The parts would have to be remade as they were damaged during removal.^[15] The scrapyard had paid the employee a total of $14,662 for the parts,^[16] some of which weighed 300 pounds (140 kg).^[15] Formal charges were filed against the employee.^[15]"" 

^{from the wikipedia article:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Maryland_Scenic_Railroad_1309}

Scrap value. little  traceability.  

Lots of things being stolen for their scrap value.  Sad. 

Who was the "original artist"?   These statues are almost a standard catalog thing. Many other Scout statues around the country. https://colbsa.org/mackenzie/

I would check in that shoe box in the back of the closet.  That's what I do....😉

InquisitiveScouter is spot on.  Scout Accounts were a bad idea from the get go. Complicates things. Integrity. A Scout is Trustworthy.  

Scout stuff only, never personal stuff,  The moneys can never be viewed as a "COMMISSION" for raising funds for the Unit. The money is the units, and thereby the CO's . Period. 

Scout leaves Scouting? Money is the units. Scout transfers to another unit?  The money is the "original" unit's. They could send it to the new unit, but I have often seen them not. 

One Scout I am aware of saved up all his SA, and when he Eagled out.... He bought the Troop a new custom painted trailer.  

Well, I think somebody ought to use the right quote. I couldn't find it in the Scouter search function, so here goes:

"A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money...." =Everett  Dirksen =

Or maybe not....   https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/a_billion_here_a_billion_there_pretty_soon_youre_talking_real_money#:~:text=The “billion here%2C billion there” quotation%2C however%2C goes,Times reported%3A “Well%2C now%2C about this new budget.

Best to go to the source....

   *(( The true author of this article is unknown. It is here copied from the COME HOSTELING newsletter, Sept. 1980, of the Potomac Area Council of the American Youth Hostels, who received it from Dick Schwanke, Senior PAC Staff Trainer, who read it in the APPALACHIAN HIKER by Ed Garvey, who got it from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Conference Bulletin, which quoted it from THE RAMBLER of the Wasatch Mountain Club of Salt Lake City, which reportedly cribbed it from the I.A.C. News of Idaho Falls, which reported it from the 1966 PEAKS & TRAILS. I offer it here for your enjoyment and inspiration. Note that some of the ingredients are a bit dated. Adjust as necessary. Enjoy!))

"Courageous Cookery"          by John Echo*    

            Once the convert backpacker or cycle camper has accepted the subtle gustatory nuances associated with sustained operations beyond the chrome, he should try the advantages of ultra fringe living so that he will realize what he is paying for his nested pots and pretty pans carried so diligently and brought home so dirty after every "wilderness experience". The following system works. It is dependable and functional. It works on the big rock. It even works when the weather has gone to hell, you are wet and cold and the wind is blowing down the back of your hairy neck. It is not for the timid. It consists of a stove, a six inch sauce pan, a plastic cup and a soup spoon. If you insist on a metal cup, you must never fail to mutter "I'm having fun, I'm having fun", every time you spill the soup on your sleeping bag.

          Breakfast: Instant wheat cereal-- sugar and powdered milk added-- ready two minutes after water boils. Eat from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water, boil, and add powdered eggs and ham. You'll never taste the cereal anyway. In three minutes, eat eggs. Do not wash pot. Add water or snow and boil for tea. Do not wash pot. Most of the residue eggs will come off in the tea water. Make it strong and add sugar. Tastes like tea. Do not wash pot. With reasonable technique, it should be clean. Pack pot in rucksack and enjoy last cup of tea while others are dirtying entire series of nested cookware.

          Lunch: Boil pot of tea. Have snack of rye bread, cheese and dried beef Continue journey in 10 minutes if necessary.

          Dinner: Boil pot of water, add Wylers dried vegetable soup and beef bar. Eat from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water and potatoes from dry potatoe powder. Add gravy mix to taste. Eat potatoes from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water and boil for tea. Fortuitous fish or meat can be cooked easily. You do not need oil or fat. Put half inch of water in pot. Add cleaned and salted fish. Do not let water boil away. Eat from pot when done. Process can be done rapidly. Fish can even be browned somewhat by a masterful hand.

          Do not change menu. Variation only recedes from the optimum. Beginners may be allowed to wash pot once a day for three consecutive days only. It is obvious that burning or sticking food destroys the beauty of the technique. If you insist on carrying a heavier pack, make up the weight you save with extra food. Stay three days longer.