The Beav SR831 & 948

Eagledad:

here is the answer that you seek;

just copy and paste the link into your browser.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter

I agree with evmori and scoutnut.

One to the latrine and another to the coffee pot.

That way you've got it covered coming or going.

Greetings Bud!

Nice to have a "neighbor" on the forums.

We've got a Woodbadge session coming up in March you might be interested in if you haven't gone yet.

Congrats on joining the madding crowd!!!

I went thru Woodbadge SR831 (Chattanooga,TN) in Apr.2007 and finished up my ticket in May 2008. You will absolutely love it!! Don't go with any pre-conceived notions just enjoy the experience. I'm in the process of training to be a troop guide for the upcoming SR948 in March and am having fun remembering all the stuff that I thought I'd forgotten and the friendships that I made. One of my best friends that was in the Beaver Patrol with me is also going through as a troop guide in SR948 as well!

I grew up in the 60's as a troop mascot(first camping trip age 5 with my Dad, who was the scoutmaster in a troop in downtown Chatt.,TN.) We stayed at Monsanto Mtn. in Huntsville, the troop got snowed on that night and went to the fledgling Space Museum and got to see booster rockets and a soon to be launched "model" of a lunar lander. Went thru 2nd year Webelos, and made it all the way to Eagle in '79. Stayed thru my early College years as troop committee and assistant SM. Dropped out until 2005 when my then 11yr. old started in a local troop and someone found out that I was an Eagle and then it started all over again for me and I've been it ever since. (OA Brotherhood, Troop Committee, ASM, and now Scoutmaster going on 3 years.)

Once it's in your blood you can never get it out!!! Love to chat with you some more seeing how you're close to my "neck of the woods."

P.s.--> go check out the woodbadge section of the forums, it will give you all sorts of information.

The Beav m`˚()˚m~#

Okay BDPT00, just for you....

I'm doing my part to help a brother Beaver Staffer (just for "Beaver III"):

OH! I used to be a Staffer

And a Good 'ol Staffer too!

But now I've finished Staffin'

an' I don't know what to do...

I'm growin' old and feeble

an' I can Staff no more...

So I'm going to work my ticket

If I can!

BACK TO GILWELL, HAPPY LAND!

I'm gonna work my ticket, if I can!

If you thought that was cool, check out this patch that you can get online at Quartermasterstore.com...

http://quartermasterstore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PC-MC-3&Category_Code=

It is 3 inches wide and 3.75 inches tall. It has a button loop which can be easily removed.

Price: $4.99!!

How neat is that? One of our troop guides had one as a temporary patch hanging off of his right pocket flap when I went through Wood Badge SR831. I've been itching to get one myself before I'm a troop guide for SR948.

Here is link/invitation for you and your WoodBadger family to join Clan MacLaren Society of North America if you attended WoodBadge. (You can become an honorary member of Clan MacLaren.)

I thought it was pretty cool!

http://www.clanmaclarenna.org/index.php/cms-join

A Wood Badge Membership is $15.00

The membership is for scout leaders who have received their Wood Badge certification.

Wood Badge members receive one copy of the MacLaren Standard.

Wood Badge members receive one copy of all CMSNA mailings, except when mailings are exclusively related to voting privileges.

This is a nonvoting membership.

Wood Badge Family Membership is $15.00

The membership is for scout leaders and spouses, both of whom have received their Wood Badge certification.

Wood Badge Family members receive one copy of the MacLaren Standard.

Wood Badge Family members receive one copy of all CMSNA mailings, except when mailings are exclusively related to voting privileges.

This is a nonvoting membership.

just download the "CMSNA Membership Application Form" on the webpage and return it to the address on the form.

I refer back to a previous link:

http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/camo.htm

It had this to say about camoflage in it's discussion....

"Why? Why are we trying to 'blend into our surroundings', Chris?? Even with our earlier uniform -- the green khaki uniforms didn't readily blend in with the outdoor surroundings (it did a better job than the current khaki-tan shirts do), but we were not concerned with "blending in" back then, so why should we do it now??

Are we in Scouting "trying to hide what we're doing" in the woods?? No. We want people to see our program and what we're doing....so, there's NO need to camouflage any aspect of our outdoor program!

...and finally....

I can choose to wear whichever I want, the GSS (Guide to Safe Scouting) does not limit the colors or patterns one might wear.

No, it doesn't, Chris...but the Rules and Regulations (I previously stated that this was in the Charter and Bylaws) of the BSA does limit you.

Here's the official statement:

"BSA Rules and Regulations, Article X, Section 4, Clause 4. Prohibition of Alteration or Imitation:

a). No alteration of, or additions to, the official uniforms, as described in the official publications, or the rules and regulations covering the wearing of the uniform and the proper combinations thereof on official occasions, may be authorized by any Scouting official or local Council or any local executive board or committee, except the National Executive Board after consideration by the Program Group Committee.

b) Imitation of United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Air Force uniforms is prohibited, in accordance with the provisions of Act of Congress, approved June 3, 1916."

And JW Walker wrote in part:

I think we now need the benefit of seeing the actual written BSA guidelines concerning "civilian" camo....

Me too, JW. The BSA doesn't address "civilian camo" in anything except written memorandum to Scout Executives concerning "camouflage clothing worn by Scouts and Scouters" (the last copy of such a item I have was dated November 1994 and was signed by the former Program Group Director now Chief Scout Executive).

As part of the memorandum, it talks about the Insignia Guide being updated to reflect the emphasis...but I have three copies of the Insignia Guide here in my hotel room, and all three doesn't address "civilian camo" like "hunting gear" even though Mr. Williams' memorandum does address "hunting and military-style clothing and equipment" in the memorandum.

He states that "hunting and military-style clothing, combined with or worn instead of the official Boy Scout or Explorer uniform, are not acceptable wear during any Boy Scouting or Exploring activity. Scout Executives are to instruct unit leaders and volunteers that those articles of clothing along with equipment like pistol belts, suspenders and military field gear are not allowed to be worn with official Boy Scouts of America clothing or in the place of BSA uniforms and outdoor clothing." (I wish that someone will dig out that copy and send it to the Chief and tell him to please post in in the new edition of the Insignia Guide.....I think it's pretty clear but it's not out there where everyone can read and go by it....)

I can only post what the Rules and Regulations state, and it doesn't address "hunting camo" or "military gear", but DOES make a point of talking about uniforming which is clearly "military", as the poster asked about.

Does the BSA National policy on camo pants list them as "prohibited" or are they "discouraged"?...

I posted the exact wording, JW...it can't be any clearer than that. We in the BSA DO NOT WEAR MILITARY-STYLE CLOTHING as part of our uniforms."

that was the main part that I think everyone needs to see.

Maybe we could get Mike(Black Eagle) to join this thread....

http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/newindex.htm

I have a link that really puts all of the camo stuff into perspective. I've gone to this guy who is a scouter on so many levels from way back. He goes by the name "Black Eagle." His name is Mike Walton.

http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/newindex.htm

He usually has the answer on an issue like this one that stirs up quite a bit of discussion.

Here is his link:

http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/camo.htm

As for myself, I was raised in the BSA during the time of the 60's to the 80's of what I'm finding out is being referred to as "Old School Scouting" by many nowadays. We wore quite a bit of it(camo) back then, and after having been out of the program for quite sometime and now having gotten active again and being a Scouter and Scoutmaster for the past 3 1/2 years, I have like the proverbial "Old Dog" had to learn and re-learn many new tricks. The main one being that if we want our boys to look up to us, then we need to look and act the part. We have young eyes constantly on us (our own units and others)and whether we want to accept it or not, what they become is what we project outward to them. I believe in "uniformity" and believe that by "being camoflaged" we are portraying to the general public that we have "something to hide" or are trying to come across as being "paramilitary" when we wear camo. The BSA(on the local all the way up to the national level) comes under enough flack as it is in the public forum because of pedophiles, etc. We should make every effort not to draw undo attention to ourselves. Now don't get me wrong I'm an avid hunter, gun and knife collector, and love to wear camo as well. But, if we are looking to have inexpensive durable clothing(especially scout pants and shorts), those items can be purchased from WalMart and others. It may not be exactly like BSA Regulation issue, but it wears just as well. Like many of you, I live in an area of the country that has a great many families that are suffering economically. We tell the parents/scouts whom join our troop that we would like for them to concentrate on the components of getting a complete scout shirt with all of the insignia from our local council scoutshop and not worry so much about the pants for the time being. We've started a "scout shirt bin/network" to help the new scouts, by having folks donate their "gently used" scout shirts so that the younger boys can rest easy knowing that they will fit in with the older boys and help also to ease some of the burden off of the parents. The neat thing about that particular shirt is it already has the outlines of where the previous owner's patches were, so that it serves as a "template" so that the new owner knows exactly where their patches should be placed. As time goes along, we encourage them(the scouts/scouters) to get the uniform a piece at a time so that by the time the young scout has made up his mind that he wants to stay in the program, Mom and Dad(Granny, aunt, uncle, etc.) hasn't lost a good deal of hard earned money if "Junior" lost interest in scouts and dropped out after a couple of months.(*Which only happens to 1 or 2 per every 15 that we bring into the troop...Program is everything! But that's a different forum altogether.)

We do however ask that the boys make themselves "respectable and presentable" the first Tuesday of every month and have their scout shirts tucked in and wear nice clean pants or jeans(acceptable shorts in the summer) to get them used to the idea of uniformity. If they can't afford a shirt, we try to at least get everyone to get a troop T-Shirt (that has all of our unit information on it) so that we have some resemblance of uniformity within the unit.

Unit level fund-raisers that have the goal of having the profits put into individual scout accounts for those that participated at that event work great for obtaining uniform pieces. For those whom still need financial assistance, our troop has them fill out scholarship forms for our troop to ensure that each boy has equal access to uniforms. Also, all councils should have forms that can be filled out for financial assistance that can provide scholarships for your boys.

If I may play devil's advocate for a second, there's been many a time that I've sent my parents to our local army store because that is the only place that carries OD green and Cub blue pants in slim sizes for the boys, because they recognized the need scouts in our area had and got a supplier to start carrying them in those sizes. BUT; AND I STRESS BUT, we tell them that National BSA policy says "NO to Camo," so please refrain from buying it for your scout while there at the army store, because there is not need or place for them in scouting. I've had a great many parents thank me later for having passed this information on to them so that they can concentrate on gettting down to the business of learning and advancement for their boys.

That's my 2

I've done 6 Eagle ceremonies within the past year, and each time our Troop has given the scout an Eagle bolo tie.

I've followed old traditions that my scoutmaster had done for

us that graduated in the '70s and '80s. He would normally give out lanyards, 4 blade scout knives or walking sticks.

I started doing decorative knots after I got out of my WoodBadge session last year because I was so frustrated with not being able to tie turks head knots and other knots like so many other folks around me. So....fast forward a few months and I began tying all sorts of fancy knots and developed various ones that I give out for different occasions like completion of C.O.P.E., fellow Woodbadgers, adults that help me out when we go to summer camp for the week, etc.

The one that I'm the proudest of though is a Red, White and Blue Lanyard that only my Eagle Scouts receive when they obtain their rank. I've found rope near the chains section of my local Wal-Mart that works really well for what I do. I make a round sennit that spirals like a peppermint stick(red and white 3/16" rope) about 3"~4" long. On one end is a royal blue 3/16" rope tied into an overhand knot on a bight. (The loop is just big enough for you to put your car keys on it.) This blue rope is woven through the interior of the red and white striped round sennit(picture it as a blue rope threaded through a straw) and comes out the other end about 1"~1 1/2". It then terminates into a blue monkey's fist that's been knotted around a 1/4" wood ball.

Needless to say, I've had quite a few requests for that particular item from several Eagles in our district as well.

As for the boys giving me gifts, It's almost always a Nalgene bottle, sharpening stone or metal scout travel coffee mug. Yeah, I know, it's not Christmas time. Quite frankly, having been a long time scouter since I was very little in the 1960s, like many of you, I've got more gadgets and camping equipment than I'll ever need. However, the gift that I covet and desire more than anything is the gratitude that I get when my new Eagle grins really big when it's just me and him talking at the reception after his ceremony, and he tells me "Thank you for everything that you've done for me!" "I couldn't have gotten here without your help."

THAT, my friends is more precious than anything that I will ever get in scouting and makes all the long hours and sacrifices worth the investment. Because, then I know that I have made a difference in at least one person's life.

Nah...Never noticed.

(He says as he wipes powder burns and smoke off face and arms with wall singed behind him.)

Thanks, Bro. I'll keep that in mind.

The "Beav" m`˚()˚m~#

SR-831 & soon SR-948

Do any of you that have been Wood Badge Troop Guides have any tips for us "newbie" guides that will soon be Staffers/Troop Guides? We'll be doing (2) Three day sessions in March.

Beaver Patrol. I just received my beads in a patrol beading ceremony on the council level on July 31st.

Just Tuesday of this week our troop had a court of honor and I had my fellow Wood Badgers present it to me again so that my troop could see what their scoutmaster had done.

---The "Beav".......m`˚()˚m~#

=======================

............................SR-831

Soon to be Staffer for SR-948.

We had a Good Ol' Raven for our Scoutmaster, but he passed away about a month and half before SR-831 cranked up.

We all miss him very dearly. We honored him by giving his son(who was our Council's Camp Director), our Raven Flag from SR-831. When we sang the Gilwell song, we all(staff and patrols) sang the "I used to be A Raven" in honor of our fallen brother. We even had a white flag with a black Raven in the center over standing above an axe and log that was flown during that time period.

I will definitely keep that forever in my mind while trying to uphold the standard as a troop guide for those that will come after me Spring 2009 when SR-948 gets started.

In answer to some of the other Good Ol' Critters...

We had a full complement of all 8 patrols

Antelope, Bear, Beaver, Bobwhite, Buffalo, Eagle, Fox & Owl.