SSScout

CMMichael: Welcome and be comfortable, here at our eCracker Barrel. eCheese and eCrackers on the eTable..... You will have a gratifying time as CM if you remember some things: 1) If it isn't FUN for you, it won't be fun for your Cubs. Make sure your Den Leaders remember this too. If it isn't FUN for your Cubs, they will not stay in Scouting for (what adults consider) the "important parts". Do not become another School Teacher. 2) Be sure to include the other parents and other "significant others" of the Cubs. Grand parents, uncles/aunts, big brothers and sisters too. DELEGATE. Do not be afraid to ASK personally for help, even to go so far as to ASSIGN tasks, and follow up on those assignments. This is not to mean that you are THE leader. No, No. Work with the Committee Chair in this. Let him/her do the delegating. Asking for volunteers is the first thing, but NOT the last. 3) Plan months ahead. Work with the Pack Committee to lay out the coming year. Publish it. No surprises for parents. Publish it on paper. Hand it to them, in person. DO NOT depend on email. 4) Remember the Cub Scout Mantra: KISMIF. Keep it simple, make it fun. 5) In all things, go places and do things the schools never would..... See you on the trail.

Event was canceled. No full reason given, but I gleaned a lack of interest.

As I recall it, my sequence went like this: 1) Elected to OA from Troop. 2) Received (US MAIL!) details of "ordeal" (?? an "Ordeal"???) 3) Signed up for the weekend (I had a choice), at Camp Roosevelt (no longer exists),on the Chesapeake Bay where I had already gone to summer camp some times before. I was familiar with the ground. 4) Arrived the Friday evening, fully back-packed for a "hike into the campsite". Led to the dining hall, where we had a scrambled egg sandwich and orange juice, and were told what we needed to do and would be doing. Expected to be silent once we left the dining hall, must only eat and drink what we are given. 5) Starting to rain. Led by groups, on a rope lead, blind folded, to our camp sites. Camp fires burning in midst. Set up in tent platforms, around the campfire. I was led to believe this was "plan B", because it was starting to rain. Hard. 6) Saturday Morning, sun is out, out of bed, dressed, (no breakfast!) led to work sites and did trail clearing, brush collection, til about noon. Led to dining hall, simple lunch (sliced meat, bread, water, milk, juice). Allowed to speak in Dining hall. Led back to new work sites. 7) Led back to dining hall for dinner. Bowl of stew, water , milk. Wash up, led back to campsite, dress in uni, led to fire circle, 8) Ceremony, given the Admonition, more ceremony. Led back to campsite. It is dark by now. 9) Told to find a solo campsite, alone, near to campsite. Told to make our way in the morning back to the Dining hall, ready to depart. Clear that night, I remember the stars were very bright, not so around here any more with all the urban buildup around the bay. 10) Sunday morn, met at the Dining Hall. Held a "Scout's Own", then a Oatmeal and juice breakfast. Awarded the sash, a patch and wished a good trip home. Out by noon. I do not remember any thing resembling a "banquet" until I was Brotherhood and attending special events.

Must be a really important topic. Four Hundred Twelve entries. Trouble getting to that Eagle, but when it is done, man , the relief. The feeling of accomplishment. Truth is, as always, some folks help, some don't. Congratulations to your New Eagle.

Best TV show . "Dirty Jobs" extolled the virtues of the work that a civilization needs done and that good people can take pride in doing. And the odd "make a living at" that only the dedicated can love. Asphalt paving, insect exterminating, sewer inspection, animal removal from crawlspaces/chimneys/wall crevices/ , bee hive collecting, junk yards, farm manure collection/spreading, fishing, trash incineration, goat breeding, cow birthing, boiler cleaning, ship barnacle cleaning, crime scene clean-up, potato farming, brush/forest fire fighting, petroleum recycling, grease recycling.... Mike did it "in person", making the ordinary man and woman visible in their importance. See the back episodes..... http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/dirty-jobs/ and http://mikerowe.com/videos/dirty-jobs/ He started out as an opera singer.

The presentation is up to you. I like to think that the beading is a nice way to showcase the Wood Badge class to folks that may not know what the heck those little beads on a shoe string are. Production? Naw.... Do it at the end of a Troop CoH. Invite your WB buddies to attend. Course director, Troop Guide, that's all you need. Someone speaks of the origin of the beads (BP, Zulu chief, Boy Scouting, Brownsea Island...), describe the process, old necker off, new necker on, beads and thong, flip of the necker/thong, shake hands, sing the song, go eat the cookies. Maybe ten minutes, max. Any longer and it may not be a Scout thing. How long does a Eagle ceremony take? How long is too long? I have a good friend, he invited me to be his beader (I had already earned my beads) at a District award dinner. He had been named the District Chaplain and at least one of his items had to do with that. We had maybe six WB beadings that evening. Besides the afore mentioned history, they named each one and the CD and TGs came forward and stood behind their "Scouts". The whole thing took about 15 minutes, but then, we did have six Scouters to applaud. I had a Scouter friend ask me ( I'm the RT Commish) if he could do his beading at the Round Table party we have in December. I said sure. Little did I know the WB was from another Council and they had a whole ceremony team, rivaled an OA tap-out. Scripts, symbolism, seven people involved. Only thing lacking was candles. I was sorry to see it take almost thirty minutes for the one beading, worthy tho my friend was. He was a little embarrassed too, said he didn't know what they had planned. It's your honor, do it your way. Don't let the WB "mob" bully you into a "production, if you don't want one. And Congrats to you, hoot hoot.

Oh, I like the idea. Just a Shoulder number sticker. About 4 by 6 inches, just your unit number , on a sticker, in the proper colors. Some folks would recognize it and smile. Others might ask about it and the conversation would ensue. I have always thought about creating a Bumper Sticker to sell for FoS. It would have the BSA fleur des lis and read: "WILL WORK FOR COLORFUL SCRAPS OF CLOTH". I haven't got my act together for it yet. No one in the BSA has taken me up on it officially either. Second Idea: You know that ubiquitous yellow "CAUTION" tape we buy by the mile to string up around Cub Scout Archery Ranges and "Rocket Into Scouting" launch sites and Axe Yards? Well, howzabout BSA contact the manufacturer and ask to have custom tape produced. Wouldn't cost any more, BSA could sell it for the same amount and MAKE MONEY . Instead of reading "CAUTION" it would read "BSA ADVENTURE ZONE" . Folks would buy it for parades, room decoration, camp promotions, even for roping off Archery Ranges.... Third idea: Ummmmm, I forgot. I'll get back to you later...

As always, "follow the money". When the leadership forgets the purpose of Scouting (Game with a Purpose), and goes for Numbers and Profit (pay level), Camps will be sold, Councils will merge, Districts will lose their focus. So many CEOs, whether in corporate world or non-profit, go for the cachet of the income level, for the comparison of "you " versus "me" in the CEO list. Corporations suffer and die, but the CEOs move to Aspen. It is the definition of the Council's organization that needs to be remembered and enforced (is that the right word?) Each Council is a franchised, separate corporation. It's Board of Directors, with defined fiduciary responsibility are the Charter Org Reps. Our friend above mentions Owasippee. That case had to go to the Federal Court and newspapers to be settled. Irving was not pleased. The "good ol' Boys" network of Chicago Council was not pleased, but the camp was saved, for the present. Same for a Camp in Massachusetts, yes? Talk to your CORs. Tomorrow, Sunday, I will be Range Safety Officer for Archery at a "Rocket into Scouting" event (Saturday canceled for rain). Cub Scouts will have fun, Rockets will be launched. Some new recruits to the "Game With A Purpose" will begin their journey. Bows ready, take your stance, aim , fire....

Ten Pins. We have a local lane(s) that charges $8 a game. Neon lights, rock music, day-glo balls, computerized scoring (won't let you make a mistake, counts the spares and strikes). no more grease pencil on plastic score sheets with an overhead projector. Push button gutter bumpers to make sure the kids get a ball down the alley. Silicon oil on the alley (when did they start that?) lets the ball slide without "English". I miss Duck pins. Any one up north miss Candle stick pins? Your Jambowlree will be in our next eNews.....

Scouty decorations are QM responsibility? Posters? Crepe paper for B&G? etc. White boards? Big newsprint? Permanent markers or wipe-able? String/rope? Duct tape? Masking/strip-able (painters) tape? Paper and big clips? Tripods/easels? Tripods can be a Pioneering demo. Food: Kitchen behind the scenes provided or self cook over a common charcoal? I've seen both. All cold cuts and bread? Consider food needs /allergies and DONOT provide Peanut Butter a-tall. Staff needs: Costumes? Silly hats? AP paper... (paper towels to you). Tarps for rain protection? Site considerations. Muddy boots/mats? Signage/directions? See you on the trail...

"Build upon the rock". I think I remember reading something like that somewhere. Thanks for the reminder, Qwazse.

"100 percent"? Is the wine/beer/whiskey then being totally donated directly ? Nice arrangement.

"The work is done by whoever shows up" Often , somebody has to make the call and ASK folks to show up. Often, most people don't know there is a need until somebody asks, "hey, we haven't had a Camporee lately, who wants to help?" Often, the only thing that is needed is for someone to point their finger and say "you da man!" and ""Hey, we need YOUR expertise here..."

Ditto to all the above. Fodder for my RoundTableNews. As I teach Fire Safety and Building in IOLS: The Five Things Needed For A Camp Fire In school , one is taught three things are needed for a fire: Oxygen, fuel, and heat. For a Scout, there are FIVE things needed. How do they compare with the three from your science class? Play the “What If†game. Number one, before anything else: 1) The Means To Extinguish The Fire. Before anything else, how will you put it out? Water, shovel, rake, sand/dirt. Have sufficient means and tools collected. Is it out? Test firebed with the BACK of your hand… Douse, stir and douse again. 2) A Safe Area. Remember that 10’ diameter cleared area. Use an established fire pit. If a “new†fire, remember your Leave No Trace guidelines: Fold back the sod, save the sod to cover the burned on bare soil area. Use an above ground fire holder: old wheelbarrow, oil drum, charcoal grill bed, etc. 3) A Safe Atmosphere: Land owners’ permission? Park Ranger’s permission? Is there a Drought? No Fire Ban? Make it as SMALL as necessary, not as BIG as you can! 4) Collect Fuel Before Lighting : Tinder, kindling, fire wood. It is hard to stop cooking to collect more wood if you run low. Set things up carefully before attempting to light. 5) The Means To Ignite The Fire: Be Prepared! Practice in your back yard before you are on the trail. Ceremonial fire? Practice it first before the big night! “No, I thought YOU had the flint and steel!â€.

Such symbolism is often missed by our Scouts, as often as it is misplaced.. I early on decided we had FOUR main promises in the Scout Promise, easily discernable: Duty to God Duty to Country Duty to Others Duty to Self... Since when should our national patriotism be subsumed with out faith? Ultimately, our faith and duty to our faith must define and color how we deal with our country , other folks and ourselves. But to include the two as if they were the same one third of the Scout Promise is not quite right. And yes, I say promise. My faith requires me to NOT "swear an oath" (Mat5:35 to start) but to keep my word given , which folks would call a promise. Yeah, it may be quibbling, but hey, to call such an "oath" is a difference that some call important. Most earlier Scout literature names this bit of ceremoniality the "Scout Oath or Promise", you can even find such nomenclature in a lot of modern Scout literature. "But isn't an "Oath" just a more formal "Promise"? " You might say that, but why make the distinction? Shouldn't my word be enough? Why make it more complicated? We ask our Scouts (and by implication, us Scouters, too) to renew that Promise at many occasions. We even ask them to enlarge upon it with the Eagle Charge discussed elsewhere in these pages. Why is it ever necessary to meddle with perfection? I dare say , if we thought about it, there have been occasions when SOMEBODY thought it would be a good idea to MODERNIZE the Scout Law and Promise. Modernize? Adjust? Make it more "available"? Ranks have been modernized. Merit Badges have been Brought Up To Date. First Class no longer requires Morse Code, or Star Identification. Cooking Merit Badge requires sanitation and disease prevention that was not thought necessary 25 years before. Computers and Robotics become a necessary interest. Is this a "good thing"? I hope so, as our Scouts become more worldly at an earlier age. Referring the Scout Promise to folding the Neckerchief, ummmm. I usually don't roll/fold my necker, but gather it together to stuff thru the woggle. One could get too concerned with perceived symbology (Robert Langdon?) to the detriment of the Game of Scouting.

1963. You do the math. Regular Troop CoH, . We said the Scout Promise, Law, and that was it. SM talks about the "Eagle Trail", I think, Mom pins Eagle pin on shirt, Dad beams, Applause, photo op. punch and cookies afterward. That was it. I was the first Eagle in the Troop, no one else to share it with. No previous examples to compare to. No precedent, I guess. Local newspaper article in my scrap book. 'Course, now, I do remember that I wasn't asked what I wanted. It was just the last part of the usual CoH which was (by tradition) very nice and thoughtfully done. Candles on a log candelabra: Three tall ones in the middle for the Scout Promise pieces (I came to believe there are FOUR parts to the Promise, more on that another time), twelve more for the Scout Law, which were lit in turn by one candle held by the Ceremonialists , as the Spirit of Scouting. I have seen many Eagle ceremonies in the intervening years. I have served as speaker, awarder, and Chaplain to "say a few words". I tend to agree with the overload complaints. The last one I attended, I was not asked to participate, and perhaps that was a good thing. The Scout is a good kid, very much a "Type A" personality, and very involved in the Troop. I expect he will be in Scouting for quite a while yet. He had 87 Merit Badges at age 15. He had , as speakers, his ex-Cubmaster, OA Chapter Advisor from his previous Council, DE from his previous council, the state legislator from our District, pastor from home church (ceremony held in Troop's CO), present Smaster, previous Smaster, summer camp Director, and someone as MC who I did not recognize, but evidently knew the Scout (he was Wood Badge) and had definitely done this MC thing before. His script was in a three ring binder, in sheet protectors. The punch and cookies (Eagle Scout cookies) and cheese and cracker thingies were in the church social hall, served by a caterer. The Scout's scout history was displayed on seven big tables (the mom is a scrapbooker, the older sister is a pro-photographer) around the outside of the room. They had a large extended family in attendance, and a lot of the Troop, and many Scout folks from other areas of his past. It was a BIG affair. I had a good conversation with the Scout's Montessorie Teacher (first grade?) (he did his project for the school), who knew very little about Scouting ("he worked hard on that project"). It was Two hours before I left, and I arrived 15 minutes late. Very good cookies....

Home Troop: Eagle kit, award, mentor pins, etc. Family: Cake, BBQ, hot dogs whatever. Picnic, campfire,.... My best Eagle ceremony of memory (other than Scoutson's) : Two Eagle'd friends arranged a campout on grandparents farm. Folks had to hike in about 500 yds with their camp chairs to the site. Everyone brought something, veggies, potato salad, etc. Ceremony with candles, smiles and solemnity. Memories shared. Flames stared into. After dark, when things were officially over, most of the old folks hiked out to home. The Scouts stayed around the campfire and I don't really think many actually went to sleep that night.

Check ScoutShop for "Scoutmaster Emeritus" shoulder patch. If it is an old one (even if it isn't too old), have lots of folks sign the Troop flag and award that to him. Buy a new one for the new Scoutmaster.

The VOA should contact the Scout Exec and ask about their "budget". If the Council really has a line item for the V's, then the VOA should plan some events (Hike-a-ree, Training session at a Council camp, bike tour of the Council Camps ( a century ride?), Shooting Sports Extravaganza, Cook-a-ree, Merit Badge Extravaganza, Scout-a-rama, name it, plan it, ) set up a budget for it and ask for help.... Nothing Ventured, nothing Scouted....

One big point is being missed in all the previous. Boys join Scouts on reputation. What are Scouts known for? What does the boy expect? And what is delivered? If the Troop culture is "get up and get going", older Scouts doing their thing, high adventure stuff, don't let these "kiddies" hold us back, yeah, the younger Scouts are going to be disappointed and drop out. They have, indeed , been left behind, sold a bill of goods, not had the reputation fulfilled. If the Troop culture is one of " here, let me show you how to do", "here, share my adventure, I understand you might not be able to hike 10 miles in one shot, I will wait for you.", " Scouting is worth while, let me help you up this rock". then, that young Scout will have the inclination to stick around. Go back to the previous post that mentioned the Scout Leader acting as the "older brother" to the younger Scout. Repeat that . If the culture is one of "Keep up or Drop out", yeah, some will stick it, but not those that need to stay . How to convince the Adult Leaders (could we invent a better term for the Boy Scout Troop Adult? Maybe Advocate? I dunknow...) to counsel their Scouts to BE that BIG BROTHER to the younger Scouts....

My suggestions to nascent Scouts and leaders is as follows: 1) If Big Pot is not being used for cooking, fill with water and put on stove/fire at first. Let it get to boiling. In any event, get a pot of water on to boil BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. 2) Use for cocoa, oatmeal, coffee, other cooking as needed, Dip out with "dedicated " dipper cup. 3) Water duty Scout keeps it near full. Keep on fire thru meal. 3) When it is time to do dishes, put out three tubs or however it is intended. Dip really hot water into #1 Wash tub, temper with cold water, add detergent. Dip really hot water into second rinse tub, temper with some cold water. Do the chlorine rinse in cold water third tub. 4) When first tub gets too dirty, dispose into "sump", move #2 into #1 position, add detergent. Temper with dipped hot water. First tub now becomes second. Hot water, temper with cold. Note that having boiling water ready BEFORE dishwashing is desired is a good thing. And SM likes the coffee first thing in morning. As an alternative to dishwashing, I also offer the Courageous Cookery plan, but this supposes individual cooking.... https://www.dropbox.com/s/je3wh2ao0u2fd4v/CourageousCookery.docx?dl=0 I have and can again copy this in toto onto these pages, but it is rather lengthy. Buon appetito. .

SMC is as has been described above. No pass, no fail. That said, if the Scout needs a skill at any given time (tie a knot, keep tent up in a storm), it might be good to "PRACTICE " that skill every so often. SPL might be encouraged to hold a knot tying Patrol competition . Make it a game. Patrols earn some bragging rights. One game I have seen: Scouts pair off. Each pair hold one pair of hands, (Tom's right hand holds Jeff's left hand ), then with their free hands, they do the knots! Cooperation? hoo hoo....

Usta be : Hot soapy water scrub, rinse clean, lower into boiling water in a mesh bag, hang to air dry. If it was really boiling water, the dishes dried very fast....

Child abuse of any sort should always be confronted and never be ignored. If someone (Scout, parent, whomever ) witnesses or hears of such or is the abused party, and they report that to the Scout authorities, on what basis do the BSA folks make their judgement, and it is a judgement? I would hope there would be an extensive investigation. I feel the idea is not to tar the person with too large a brush, for fear of being sued for defamation of character (?) Now, if the allegations are reported to the legal authorities, then , if the person is indeed found guilty in court of the charges.... Coming up, here in Alexandria VA, , ( this is how it is listed in our local eNews) the BSA sponsored National Youth Protection Symposium Discussion, workshops, networking, latest information and training on Youth Protection. Anyone, any organization that deals with young people is invited to attend. **Share with your Scout Unit, House of Worship, School, etc. What: Symposium on threats to our young people. When: 12 – 14 October, 2016 Where: Sheraton Suites Hotel, Old Town Alexandria, VA. What: Discussions, workshops, information, networking. Why : Because we love our kids. Because we want to recognize the unthinkable. How Do & How Much: See website: http://www.nationalyouthprotectionsymposium.org/ Check for updates and listing of featured speakers.

Oh, this is great. I like the ideas of being a "conservation" site, promoting native plants, pollinator food, all that . AND great publicity. AND public approbation. ""By next summer, Kietzman hopes to place two or more bee hives at the site. Their honey could be sold at the camp's trading post. Local beekeeper Brett Kent has been offering advice, including how to deter black bears that roam the camp."" How to deter black bears? Good luck. Maybe they can be enlisted as a n endorsement as to how good the honey is..... And maybe this will help prevent the Council from selling the camp....