Trevorum

Pete, all my outdoors gear is imported from Xenu. The tariffs are pretty high, but the quality is amazing. see www.http:/clambake.xenu.planet/exports

Gunny, You are right that LNT is not a set of rigid rules with a one-size-fits-all-approach. Perhaps I was too broad in my statement. I interpret LNT to suggest an approach where one treads as lightly as possible in the outdoors. Cautious use of this stove could fit within an LNT ethic, but I discourage the use of any natural fuels wherever possible - except within established rings in developed campgrounds. This stove would certainly be a better cooking solution than traditional campfires! However, I still see no advantage to this stove while backpacking and several disadvantages: flames from natural fuels always have a greater chance of escaping; there is no reason one needs to destroy any organic detritus (however small and insignificant that amount may seem to us); finally, while lightweight, it looks unwieldy compared to a collapsing stove.

I wouldn't recommend it for backpacking. It is not LNT and it has a much higher risk of escaping. (The website shows it being used on ground littered with organic debris!) That said, I could see it used by Scouts for efficient cooking in a developed camp within a fire ring.

Similar to SR540Beaver's troop, our meeting room also has an "advancement wall". Below the large images (about 12" in size) of each rank are name plates of the Scouts. Each name plate has a velcro backing and immediately after the SM recognizes a rank advancement, the fellow moves his name plate to the roster under the next rank. It's part of the ceremony and the big display serves as part of the feedback loop to encourage scouts to work on their next advancement requirements. It also helps us identify at a glance fellows whose advancement has stagnated and who might need some encouragement.

John, With all respect, I assume that you do know that you're worshipping the wrong god? No? Well, that's definitely the message that you give to others. No offense is intended here, just a perspective.

Welcome to the forums, Tim! I've always held that Cubmaster is the best job in Scouting. Have fun!

You're planning on 3 stoves for 12 persons for a weekend. That's one stove per 4 persons for 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts (assuming lunches are cold). My backpacking style is to boil water for morning coffee and oatmeal (or such), and then for supper, boil water for coffee and dehydrated stroganoff and cobbler (or such). If we're licking out plates clean and not boiling water for KP, then I think one canister should be plenty for 4 persons for 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts. That said, I would also take a spare. Have fun!

I have a pocket rocket and I love it! But I can't really say how long a canister lasts. I always travel with a spare so I've never tracked the "mileage" so to speak. It varies with elevation and number of people you're cooking for, of course. I decided to go with the canister stove rather than a gas one because here in Texas we don't canmp a lot at elevation (!). However, we used it last summer at Philmont as our 2nd crew stove and had no problem.

Yes, Mitch Reis' excellent book will be indispensible for any BSA uniform recreation. Also, there are folks who collect historical uniforms and who might be willing to offer you advice, photos, etc. I'd suggest posting to Patch-L (it's not just for patch collectors!). see www.gilwell.com/patchl/ (edited the link) (This message has been edited by Trevorum)

John-in-KC suggests that Christians are supposed to be intolerant of other gods. I'm not sure about that, but I'll defer to John and other Christians to debate the matter. However, as a Unitarian Universalist I am encouraged to be fully tolerant of other beliefs. That is one of the things that I greatly appreciate about UU-ism. At a regular UU faith service, I might have a Jew on one side, a Catholic on the other, a Wiccan in front, and an atheist in back of me. And we all chuckle together because those labels do none of us justice.

We do the same as Mrw1 (by the way, welcome!). ALL advancements are recognized as soon as possible. Our advancement chair makes several trips to the scout shop every month so awards (rank and MBs) are generally delayed by no more than about 2-3 weeks. Except when we are within a month of a CoH, when the SM will delay recogniion of advancements until the CoH. At the CoHs, all advancements since the last CoH are again formally recognized in front of parents as the cards are handed out.

So, pack, we can include Nicotiana sp. as a poisonous plant??

An interesting idea! Since you would be recreating these uniform pieces, they would be reproductions and hence not offical BSA uniforms. So you'd have to consider them as costumes. (Similarly, Civil War reenactors are considered to be in costume by the US military). Unless ... the unit is a Venture Crew which is allowed to choose their own uniform!

Ed, grammar is in the ear of the beholder!

just for fun ... Playing "Six degrees of Kevin Bacon" at work recently, I started wondering about social networks in Scouting - who knows whom. Thinking about Scouter.com, I was startled to realize that even though this website is broadly national in focus and despite the (relative) anonymity of our screen handles, there are at least five posters whom I know in real life! (ToriBug from my unit, BigEd from council, JimWelton from summer camps and conclaves, and NeilLup and FGoodwin from National). And there are a few other posters whom I may have known as a youth (like John-in-KC) but that's just way too long ago to be certain, and some (like Hillis) whom I just haven't had the chance to shake hands with yet but probably will sooner or later. (Of course, I wish I could count all of you whom I would LIKE to meet!) So I'm curious - how many other Scouter.com posters do YOU know in real life ??

Yah, the current knee sock that fold down, no garters. I wear 'em now and then during the summer, much to the gigglement of my lovely bride, who ribs me mercilessly for my fashion sense.

Now you're thinking! And who's gonna buy that popcorn?? The Nigerians, of course!!

"I would agree 1984 is a good book. But it's fiction!" Ed, some people say the same thing about the Bible ...

Great idea. $18G at a pop! The first step in establishing legitimacy will be to get 25 units chartered by the Church. We'll need some dogma, too. Maybe borrow some stuff from the Pink Unicorn folks?

Merlyn, I have not met Alicia Colon, but I know Fred Goodwin and he's certainly not a "fool". An apology would be courteous - but is not expected.

Re-reading John-in KC's post made me remember: occasionally I will wear a small enameled pin of my first lodge on the edge of my current flap. It's not regulation of course, but is sentimental to me. (John and I were brothers in Walika Lodge in the waaaay back times)

My uniform shirt (shortsleeve) is regulation except for our troops adult patrol patch (woodsman) and the Inclusive Scouting emblem I wear on my optional patch pocket. Aways wear our troop neckerchief (under collar). My largest variation from standard policy follows our troop tradition: during summer months we all wear our class B T-shirts to meetings instead of the uniform. That's our standard garb on campouts as well. I generally wear khaki cargo shorts or zip-offs during summer but wear the regulation trousers the rest of the year. Always red-top socks (I think I'm the only adult in the troop that will wear the knee socks). For traveling, troop meetings during the school year, ceremonies, district activities, and training events, always Class A. For CoHs I'll put on medals, service stars and WB beads. For national meetings I wear a business suit (ugh).

Lest you brand me a lackadaisical slacker SM, let me also add that there are some issues in Scouting on which I give no quarter. For example, I have always been known as a harda** when it comes to flag ceremony protocol. NO talking in the ranks, NO slouching, NO fidgiting. Period.

Hi Brent, I understand your point and I fully agree with you that kids will always push the boundaries! I have set high expectations for my own sons, and I am comfortable with enforcing BSA uniform discipline with them (by now they know that I do NOT tolerate untucked shirt tails) but I suppose I am less willing to play hardball on this issue with other fellows in the troop. I personally know of youngsters who have stopped participating in Scouting altogether merely because of the "dorky uniforms". Some of these fellows are lost causes, but others may be willing to compromise and stay in Scouting if they just don't have to wear those "totally gay" shorts and red top socks. (Note: the adjective is current street vernacular and does not reflect gender identity in any way.) As I said, I would much rather give some slack on this issue and keep a young fellow coming for the adventure while we slyly provide him with opportunities to develop the character he'll need as an adult, than loose him forever because of a rigid insistance on applying a method that clearly doesn't work for him. But again, that's my personal view.

Gotta agree with Ed. As SM, I was always in full uniform (even the red-top socks, which my lovely bride ridicules mercilessly) so as to set the standard for the fellows. Nonetheless, most boys wore jeans. Even my own sons would, as Oak Tree notes, "remove the shirt at the earliest possible moment. And they like to run around with it unbuttoned." Sigh. As a parent, we learn to choose which battles are worth fighting. Same thing with being a Scouter. I'd rather keep a poorly uniformed boy in the program for another year or two than drive him away with a martinet's insistence on spit and polish. I see the uniform as a METHOD for achieving the aims. It's a proven method and it works most of the time. Nonetheless, it can easily become an aim in itself if we don't step back now and then and focus on the big picture of character development, participatory citizenship, and physical, mental and moral fitness. Of course that's just my approach and others may see things differently.