Trevorum

Preparing for his ECoH, my son and I were reviewing his Scouting history. I was trying to gently plant the notion of palms and I asked how many partials he still had outstanding. He told me he has four, including one from his first summer camp, five years ago. Somehow, I'm skeptical that the paperwork still exists for that one ...

P.S. Welcome to the forums!

You mean like a 12" length of 3/4" white PVC with a flame shaped light bulb on one end and a AA battery inside with a small thumb switch on the side? That kind of candle prop?

Oh. I really need to wear my glasses. I thought you were asking about Scouting weddings.

At our Commissioners meeting last night, we went over the "red list" - those units in danger of rechartering. All were V Crews folding because their members had gone away to college, they had recruited insufficient numbers to replace themselves, and they had no continuity of adult leadership.

Dave, The fellows above are right of course. But citing chapter and verse to a stogy committee may or may not do any good, if they have "always done it this way". I've heard of cases where unit advancement committees have dug in their heels and effectively said "my way or the highway" to a scout. So, my advice is to be prepared to consult with your district advancement chair and/or find a new unit that does not add to the requirements. Good luck! -trevorum

John, I may have been misunderstood; I didn't mean to imply that anyone should "secretly" disregard the owners wishes.

Beav, you've posed an interesting twist on Kohlbergs Stages. As with all such models, there are some serious flaws in his construct. However, one of my favorite applications is towards religion. What is the source of personal ethics: fear of punishment? (hell) desire for reward? (heaven) social order? something else?

Merlyn, you're right, the arrangement of the stars is not an indication of authenticity. However, some arrangements are more rare than others, and hence more collectible. The 8-7-8-7-8 is the most common. CA, nonetheless, the flag is definitely collectible and, although worn, should not be destroyed. It should first be offered back to the original owner with some indication of it's historical (and possible monetary) value. If the owner(s) does not want the flag, I suggest that the troop sell it to a collector and use the funds for a campership or other worthy cause. The 8x14 ft dimensions are puzzling. A 10x12 ft 38 star flag in good condition is currently selling on eBay for $99.

Thanks, Fred. I very much liked the way the author phrased it, "He has been the only President to earn the Scouts' highest honor of Eagle Scout", rather than the more common "He was the only Eagle Scout to become President".

There are several versions of the 38 star flag - How are the stars arranged?

Welcome Brian (I imagine we'll just call you 'Meter'). I've often said that CubMaster is the best job in Scouting! Glad to have you join our forums!

To all you Brits and Canucks from us Yanks Happy Boxing Day!

Since the time when this thread was last active (18 months ago), my 15 y.o. son has gotten two ear piercings. It's not my personal style, but then I realize that that's what it is - a style, a fashion - and these things constantly change with the generations. When I was a teenager, I remember the battles some of my buddies had with their dads about wearing long hair. My own dad (then sporting a crew cut) gave me his advice but respected my ability to make my own decisions. I grew my hair long. Some years later, he grew his own hair long, with a beard. Who knows, as I mellow maybe I'll end up getting an earring and/or a tattoo. As far as our troop goes, I can think of three ASM's who wear earrings, plus the previous SM. I can't see how it would be an issue for a BoR or a CO. In fact I am certain that upon appeal, National would overturn the decision of any BoR not to advance a Scout on the sole basis of earrings, hair length, hair color, tattoos, or any other personal style.

yuch, owl! My first thought was to grab some of this guy's DNA so we could one day clone astronauts for inter-stellar travel in deep-freeze !

For everyone with an interest in Scouting's early years, I highly recommend the new article by David Scott (Miki101 on this forum) in the December 2006 issue of the ISCA* Journal. In this episode, Scott recounts the very early history of the BSA handbook and provides interesting insights into the relationship between Seton and Baden Powell. As always, Scott's research is impeccable. * International Scouting Collectors Association

As a kid, I always thought that Hannukah was a pretty cool holiday. My Jewish pals would get presents all week long, while I would only get them on the 25th. Later in life, my dad started celebrating the equinoxes and solstices. So my kids get presents on Dec 21 as well. I have a friend whose wife is a Jehovahs Witness. His son doesn't get any presents at all. I know there are religious reasons for that, but I still think it's sad. Giving presents to children is good.

'Hibernating' Man Survives for 3 Weeks Dec 20, 8:34 PM (ET) By HIROKO TABUCHI TOKYO (AP) - A man who went missing in western Japan survived in near-freezing weather without food and water for over three weeks by falling into a state similar to hibernation, doctors said. Mitsutaka Uchikoshi had almost no pulse, his organs had all but shut down and his body temperature was 71 degrees Fahrenheit when he was discovered on Rokko mountain in late October, said doctors who treated him at the nearby Kobe City General Hospital. He had been missing for 24 days. "On the second day, the sun was out, I was in a field, and I felt very comfortable. That's my last memory," Uchikoshi, 35, told reporters Tuesday before returning home from hospital. "I must have fallen asleep after that." Doctors believe Uchikoshi, a city official from neighboring Nishinomiya who was visiting the mountain for a barbecue party, tripped and later lost consciousness in a remote mountainous area. His body temperature soon plunged as he lay in 50-degree weather, greatly slowing down his metabolism. "(Uchikoshi) fell into a state similar to hibernation and many of his organs slowed, but his brain was protected," said Dr. Shinichi Sato, head of the hospital's emergency unit. "I believe his brain capacity has recovered 100 percent." Uchikoshi was treated for severe hypothermia, multiple organ failure and blood loss from his fall, but was unlikely to experience any lasting ill effects, Sato said. Doctors were still uncertain how exactly Uchikoshi survived for weeks with his metabolism almost at a standstill.

To all my friends here on Scouter.com, a very Happy Solstice! May our world renew iteself with vigor and beauty and may all our people find joy and peace

This is why I try to make sure all the first year guys sign up for Swimming MB at summer camp. At least they will get thoroughly wet every day. Actually, we teach the fellows how to launder their duds using the 3-bucket method and a rubber plunger. The moms are pretty impressed.

Hunt asks, "Have you ever been pulled over because the police were wondering what you were doing in the wrong neighborhood?" This actually happened to me (a white boy), and in my own neighborhood, too. The cops said the car I was driving was too old and beat up for the community. Then a poor grad student, I told him if he thought my car was bad, he should see the furniture in my apartment ...

pssst! let me tell you a secret! Cubmaster is the best job in scouting!

OK, so my memory of the movie is faulty. He was saying he was glad he chose Scouting ...

In planning his upcoming Eagle Court of Honor, my oldest son and I got to talking about rites of passage ceremonies that mark a change in ones status like baptism, bar mitzvah, marriage, etc. He correctly noted that these ceremonies were symbolic only; nothing really changed before or after other than how other people think of you. He then speculated about truly life changing events forks in the road of life, so to speak - and offered that his decision to join Scouting some 10 years ago was such an event in his own life. He jokingly compared me to Orpheus, offering him as Neo, the red pill or the blue pill? and said he was glad he had chosen the "blue pill". I just smiled when he told me that Scouting had truly and forever shaped his character and his outlook on life. trevorum

I have not heard that one, just the "I affirm my allegiance..." one. IMO, it might be a bit redundant to have both. BUT, it's up to the Eagle and his family.