Trevorum

Welcome to the forum and back into the Scouting action, Sylvar! The same thing happened to me when my 1st son joined Cubs. If I may be so presumptious as to offer unsolicited advice: WOOD BADGE! I really wish someone had urged me to take Wood Badge training sooner!

The problem with sheath knives isn't when they are in the sheath - it's when they come out of the sheath. And because (most) boys love knives, sharp sticks, and pointy things, knives often come out of the sheath, to look at, to show some one else, to play with. And there's the rub. IMHO, whereas an 11 year old has the maturity to properly use a sheath knife, most 6-9 years olds do not. If the cub has earned the Whittlin' Chip, this is a parental decision but should be guided/advised by the Cubmaster while on a Scout outing. Personally, I never would have let my sons wear a sheath knife when they were cubs. No matter how responsible they are for their age, kids will be kids and I valued their fingers too much.

While not everyone who carries a sheath knife is bragging on macho, I see no reason for a cub to carry one. It's not as useful as a pocketknife and is far more dangerous (IMHO). I too have horses and I find a small multi-tool on my belt much more convenient (even cuts baling wire!

Yes, the Scout Oath, of course. I mis-typed.

Here's another one you are welcome to share with your troop. -------------- Well, Thanksgiving has now passed and were already into the Holiday Season! Ill bet a lot of you fellows are already making lists of presents you want. I hope that youre also making lists of presents youre going to *give* to your parents, family, friends, and others. You all remember the three parts of the Scout Law: Duty to God & Country; Duty to Self; and Duty to Others. Who are those "Others" and what IS your duty to them? Well, you all know that your duty to your parents is to be Obedient, Helpful, and Trustworthy, as well as respectful. How about your brothers and sisters? Your duty to them is to be Loyal, among other things. Your friends? Friendly of course, and Loyal and Helpful. But what about people you dont even know? People who youve never even met before. Do you have a duty to them? How about Courteous, Cheerful, and Kind? We should be Kind to everyone, even people we dont know. So, I want to make a challenge to each of you. This is the Season of Giving. I challenge each Scout here tonight to give a present this month to someone you dont know. Maybe someone youve never even seen before. It doesnt have to be fancy. It doesnt have to be expensive. Maybe a MacDonalds gift certificate to the homeless guy on the side of the road. Maybe a small potted plant to the lady down the street who you dont know but she always waves at you. No one is going to check up on whether you do this or not. It wont help you advance. It wont give you any credit. But its the right thing to do. Because this is the Season of Giving, and because a Scout is Kind. Think about it.

Wednesdays at PTC at family days, meaning there is no program and families get to do what they want. We drove over the staggeringly gorgeous Sangre de Cristo Mountains and spent the day in Taos. (mm-mmm! good food!) Other folks visited Santa Fe or other places in the region. Speaking of which, Eamonn, I just realized I don't know which Las Vegas you are referring to! Nevada, or just-down-the- highway in New Mexico?

The way we work it, yes, it's a petty cash / slush fund. The patrols keep their own accounts (or not ...) and when they need a new griddle or dining fly, that's the starting point. One patrol used it for a party, I think (cokes, chips etc.) which is OK too, 'cause it's theirs. Usually the small non-food purchases (new spatula, lantern mantles, etc.) are obtained by the grubmaster as the need arises. Or not ... Lately, we've had a problem of one patrol consistently forgetting to purchase matches or trash bags or scrubby pads or something. Month after month they have mooched off other patrols and us leaders. I have faith they'll learn though. I've asked the SPL to remind all grubmasters about this stuff and the other patrols have said (only half joking) that they will charge a fee next time. Sooner or later it sinks in.

We do the same. This is a good example of flexibility in implementing the method (advancement), although OGE and others might argue that it is "tweaking"

... If it isn't or if they are hungry, they learn to do it better next time. (The adult patrol usually has enough extra to ensure that no one goes hungry!) (sigh... truncated post syndrome strikes again)

... bagels, 2 tubs cream cheese, etc.). On Thursday night before the outing, the grubmaster's parent take him shopping. The parent can teach but is not supposed to do the shopping. If any money is left over, it goes to the Patrol kitty. If the money is short, the grubmaster is supposed to refigure quantities and keep within the budget. Sometime he has to borrow from the Patrol kitty. This way, the whole patrol knows what is supposed to be on the menu. I

ooh, good topic! And welcome to the forum, Semper! (I jost got here a while ago myself.) Here's the way we do it. Two weeks before each campout, each patrol plans it's menu based on number of meals, food groups, etc. and elects a grubmaster for the month (this rotates). The following week, the grubmaster collectes a fixed $10 per camper. Using the menu and the number of campers, the grubmaster develops a shopping list (eg. 8 bage

A labour of love - those are the best! And the subject is long overdue. Thanks from all of us for undertaking the project - I will wait patiently until publication.

Thanks! I'm keen to know, what primary sources have you had access to insde and outside of BSA? Is this an avocational passion or are you a professional historian? Do you touch on myth of the "Unknown Scout" in the fog? Does the book go back to Beard's Handy Book? ... I'm just full of questions!

Hopewell - that is quite unusual! Do you have them custom made? Are there other units that don't use CSPs but still use the red/white community strips? A few months ago, I remember seeing a Boy's Life article about a troop in the Pacific northwest that used Roman Numerals instead of regular troop numbers. It was very odd looking (but I'll bet it gave those scouts a special sense of esprit de corps)

Thanks, Miki - WOW! some good detail there! I am definitely looking forward to your book being published!

OK, I thought so, just wanted to check. Recently, we've had some looonnng delays between BoR and CoH and several scouts have elected to wear the Eagle patch upon notice from National.

nice meeting everyone! was: Lion/AoL am: Eagle served: PL, Bugler, SPL, JASM currently: Scoutmaster previously: District Training Chair, Cubmaster, Den Leader used to be: good ol' Bob White!

Thanks to both Eagles 69 and 90! We are scheduled for the last week in May - I am told the river still has good flow then. I'll look for the book, thanks!

If it's the AoL and/or a religious award, I would hope that no one would have any problem with an adult leader wearing the knots without producing the paperwork. After all, we are Trustworthy, right? This is a very common situation, I believe. The other youth awards that can be worn on the adult uniform as knots are the Eagle and the various heroism awards ( I don't think there are any others?) and National should have records for those. Also, lost OA records are addressed as a FAQ on the National OA website.

I second Acco wholeheartedly! PTC is a great family vacation. We went in 2000 and everyone had a terrific time, spouse and all 3 kids. PTC has a wonderful program for all ages. Family's only complaint: mess hall food. My only regret is that I wish someone had told me in advance to save my reciepts 'cause it would have been tax-deductible (my portion that is).

Trail Pounder, predictably, trots out the right-wing sound-byte "Homosexual Agenda" (if enough people say something often enough, does that make it true?) as if there were a nefarious cabal of people who are conspiring to make him stop treating them as second class citizens. A secret agenda to not be hated? Prejudicial discrimination of any minority on the basis of their biology is simply wrong. Would you also have us loathe people who have AB- blood type? Is being born polydactylous a " cancer" on society? WAKWIB then somehow tries to draw an analogy between biologically caused homosexuality and a strictly cultural behavior, human sacrifice. The comparison is fundamentally flawed for obvious reasons. But thank you for acknowledging the historical continuity of homosexuality. That goes a long way towards recognizing that it is a biologically mandated trait and not some "lifestyle" chosen by the morally decadent. And please understand that whether of not homosexuality is accepted or proscribed by your theology is irrelevant to anyone who does not share your religion. (What would your reaction be to someone who said [insert behavior here] is wrong because Loki said so.)

Miki, thanks for the history. I'm glad we have a bona-fide BSA historian on this forum! And I look forward to your book - please keep us updated on it's publishing status. During that time, what lattitude did individual councils have in crafting compromises between the BSA policy of inclusion and the prevalent social values of segregation? I have been told that in other parts of the country, "colored" units coexisted with "white" units while here in Texas, "colored" units were organized into separate districts. Was this the case? Also, do you have any information on this subject with regards to inclusion of Asian-Americans?

Our PLC has voted on a Canoe Trek for next summer, and after researching the costs and travel distances, we have settled on the Buffalo River in Arkansas. I am told it is a National Wilderness River and is a great experience, but I don't know a lot more at this point. We have a canoe guy who will be training us and helping everyone with equipment, but I am seeking more information about the Buffalo River. Has anyone here canoed this river?

I was tapped out in Walika Lodge in 1968 and became a Brotherhood member in Tonkawa Lodge in 2002. Walika is no longer around and I wish I still had my first flap. WWW

Funny story -- At our last campout we hosted two patrols of Webelos and their parents. Saturday afternoon, one of the Webelos came running up with blood dripping from his finger. He had cut through the fingernail with a knife. I put direct pressure on it while an ASM grabbed the Med Bag. The new parents watched attentively as I did 1st Aid. Then his mom ran up, worried, and asked what had happened. I was about to recommend that she take him to the ER. I said, "Well, I'm not a Doctor, but ...", when one of the other parents who had been watching the whole show piped up, "I am. I'm a hand surgeon." I gaped at him. "Well, you seemed to be doing a good job..." he trailed off. Later, I found out the kid's mom was a physician, too! (3 stitches and he was back in time for cobbler).