Bob58

So I finished reading the e-mail from a Star Scout Mom that started "**** has completed his six months of service its time to arrange for a Board of Review...." Third, she copied the whole troop, second, if I'm not mistaken there is the question of a Scoutmasters Conference, and FIRST... why isn't her son making this request! He is the Senior Patrol Leader, is suposed to set the weekly agenda and does routinely ask if anyone needs a SM confernce or BoR.

Mom insists loudly & often that "**** will be an Eagle like @@@@@@." (A much older & self-motivated family friend (?) who is now teaching after earning his Eagle and a BA & MA from Ivy league schools.)

I'm in favor of buying an extra pin giving it to the mom for the mom & letting the son...

Sorry, Any advice...

And of course each boy would meet any or all of Sepmer's listed requirements individually....

I agree that sometimes things just need to be done for the experience. At other times simply because we do community service , not to check off another 2 hrs. of service.

One must try to find joy in the jouney for we don't always reach the planned destination.

-me

Bob

From the great northeast... do Scouts cleaning windshields deprive creative panhandlers of money earning opportunities?

Several years ago a local troop donned their "official" unit ball caps, scout related tee shirts and troop aprons (originally purchased for pancake breakfasts!) to squeegee the windshield of every car parked in the church parking lot on Sunday morning. (For safety Scouts were not allowed to approach vehicles until after the service had begun.) The fundraiser was announced the week before & on the actual day.

Leaders reported that it had been pretty successful, it wasn't my unit so I can't really speak to that, but I don't see real value here -- it sounds more like an "invitation to donate." I discounted it during a Roundtable & suggested that a genuine Car Wash would be better. I took the stand that the winshield washing would make a great freebie to increase visibility with the Charter Organization & surrounding community.

Eamonn, "Bob was a shilling or 12 pennies.Which became 5 pence when we changed to decimal currency, now about 9 cents."

What do I tell my Uncle -- or was someone mistaken when they informed me that... "Bob's your uncle!"

I'd have to check the exchange rate but my uncle Bob was always more that a "bob" - he was a real gem. Sorry, of course my Uncle was a "Bob!"

Bob(This message has been edited by Bob58)

From the Good News Bad News department...

this one that hit USA Today.

Three local troops have had trailers stolen in the last 4 - 6 weeks. Two have been found - empty.

The story of the first is detailed at

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050712/NEWS01/507120365

not sure if the link will work but searching delawareonline.com for "troop 274" will do the trick. ("troop 414" might just turn up the most recent tale.)

This could put a new twist on the "to trailer or not to trailer" debate.

-Bob

By Jove!

Before you know it we'll be swatting all gadflies and serving hemolock to those with whom we disagree.

Bob

Not quite sure where God lives, or why he would have a particular area set aside as God's country.

My old catechism tells me God is everywhere so maybe he's walking quietly w/ the old gent down by the creek, although I thgought I saw him this morning gathering wood for the bonfire on the beach later tonight!

I'm smiling as I remember a popular bumper sticker in these parts a few years back that announced "There is no life west of the Chesapeake Bay." Yeah, I wonder what God thought of that one.

Bob

Checking for the source now but I've always liked the idea that

"A leader is one step in front of the people he's following."

Said w/ a smile.... This works well in small groups where as the physicians used to say they will 'do no harm." There are times at which the leader cannot be merely the voice/face of the crowd.

Not spinning off ...

"tyranny ofy the majority"

that will have to be another day.

Live today well,

Bob

ScoutNut,

Thanks for mentioning one of the most useful resources... Program Helps. At the beginning of the year we provide each den with 2 copies and ask them to sit down & divide the year among the parents. (For the last 5 yrs. we've had an exp. Tiger Leader (DL or Coach) who stayed w/ the new parents as DL. By December we've had a new parent coordinating most of the meetings.) Two of them continued as Wolf or Bear Leaders. We try to keep our Cubmaster busy w/ the Pack Meetings, but he has had to take over for Webelos leaders on occasion.

Make sure that the parents see that they can do the job and ask them to do it at least a few times each year so that you get to choose -- selecting the right volunteers for DL's is the trick.

Bob

2 quick ones.... I'll be brief because this might go to another thread...

This January I helped a 17 yr old life scout transfer to a new unit because the new Scoutmaster in his old troop told him w/ his parents present that he wasn't Troop xyz Eagle material. There was no discussion of a lack of "scout Spirit" or any other explanation. Other leaders encouraged the new SM to take the stand & the young man left. The rules should be clear. There is no such thing as a unit specific advancement requirement. We're asking advancement & other district Committee chairs to review this unit w/ an eye toward intervention.

The Chartered Organization is responsible for the selection of the unit leadership and ultimately responsible for implementing the program. The Chatrtering organization can / should remove or redirect a leader who is not delivering the BSA program or is not in accord w/ the chartering organizaton's own programs or policies. A well trained & dedicated Scoutmaster should be able to recognize the split (divergence of interests) & move on or at least relinquish such a visible role in that particular unit without undermining the BSA program or the chartering organizations operation.

Rules re each of these cases are pretty clear. So why do other leaders and profesionals turn a blind eye when they become aware of such problems?

Bob(This message has been edited by Bob58)

Just had our last pre race meeting & things look good!

I've become aware of several other Scout runs & hope forum members will post re their readers experiences. I was tempted to note from California to New Jersey, but that wouldn't be a 5k! or at least a different one perhaps 5k Km depending on the route!

We have over 150 runners registered and if we top 200 on race day we will have the largest 5k in the state that is run by volunteers. Not a big deal really until you consider some of the "big dogs" (American Cancer Soc., MS, MDA, Spec. Oly) have professionals who do nothing but promotion and fundraising.

I'm very proud of our district leaders and the job they've done. Please take a look at the web sight (now or late next week for this years updated pics & info). I think that one of our best ideas is the food bank donation for the kids Fun Run -- the young ones get runners bibs & ribbons & the food bank get help & publicity.

Wish us well as we step out on Saturday morning!

Bob

I'm known as a mug collector so that's been my siganature gift since I became a leader. Those available through the Scout shop usually do the job -- though not always an Eagle mug. I've been known to slip a 10 spot into it when I know that the young man will have a hard time meeting educational (or other) expenses.

Some of our form members might not know that BSA produces an "Eagle catalog" w/ everything needed (?) to celebrate a

young mans achievement.

Bob

Hi,

Only 9 days to the 5k! Do you know anyon who is participating?

Race director Primus Popitti tells me that we've topped 150 runners -- that's relatively small compared to the MS or American Cancer Society events but we're growing.

If you know a runner in Delaware or nearby Maryland, Pennsylvania or New Jersey please fwd the web link.

www.boyscout5k.org

Thanks, Bob

flashback to the late 60's or early 70's when Boy's Life's PeeWee Harris was asked to do the publicity for his local district or dinner....

PeeWee's caption for a group photo of routund adult scouters....

"Scouting rounds a guy out!"

g'night!

Bob

Definitely get Philmoint's input, but your refernce to "troop tour" raises a question in my mind. Is this a Crew trek or a Troop trek on which you would be a guest? I'm hoping that its a Crew trip and there aren't any in house politiucs to deal with.

I've only been to Philmont for training and haven't been able to get my committee to even put a trek on our wish list.

Go For it.

Bob

Hi,

It appears that a number of people checked the thread... did anyone visit the web site? ...make plans to attend?

Bob

Hi,

The 3 Rivers District of DelMarVa Council has laced up its running shoes one more time... This is just one of the e-mails that our volunteers have been floating around. I strongly encourage you to visit the website ( boyscout5k.org ) We're 35 minutes south of Philly (Okay, Philadelphia, did I spell it correctly?)

Last year the Overall winner was an Eagle from Pennsylvania. We've invited the local High schools to send some of their recreational runners free of charge. Several packs will be walking and several more will be collecting for the canned good drive even though they won't be walking/running that day. We're expecting a dozen health care groups to participate in the Health Fair. Most important we hope you will pass this along to anyone you know in southeartern PA, Delaware, Northeastern MD or South Jersey.

-Bob

We need friends like you to help run, walk, make a donation, or sponsor the 2nd Annual Boy Scout 5K Run/Walk. The funds raised are part of the Friends of Scouting (FOS) campaign to be used in the local Boy Scouts, DEL-MAR-VA Council. The Council serves 20,000 youth (boys and girls) and 5,000 adult (men and women) volunteers in Delaware and the Eastern Shores of Maryland and Virginia.

It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

Part of this mission is to promote good physical and mental fitness. There are may ways to achieve this, the 5K is one way. So join us in living out our oath.

We are your neighbors, friends, and relatives in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Crews, and Explorer Posts. Make it a family event and join the fun. Become a FOS!

To Run or Walk the 5K, you can fill out the attached form OR

Sign up online at: http://www.boyscout5k.org/signup.html'>http://www.boyscout5k.org/signup.html

The event will feature a USATF 5K Run, 5K Walk, and a Kids Fun Run to benefit the DEL-MAR-VA Council, Boy Scouts of America. The events will be open to all registered participants. The Kids run is limited to children under 14 years of age on the day of the race. The event will also sponsor a Health and Fitness Expo Tent and includes music, food, T-shirts, awards, and prizes.

To Make a Donation or Sponsor the 5K, you can fill out the attached form OR

Sign up online at: http://www.boyscout5k.org/sponsors.html

All contributions are tax deductible and you will receive a statement at the end of the year from the DEL-MAR-VA Council, Boy Scouts of America.

We need your generosity and friendship more than ever. Please email this to your friends, family and coworkers.

On My Honor,

Primus

Primus Poppiti

Race Director

302-383-0968

http://www.boyscout5k.org

Make checks payable to: DEL-MAR-VA Council, BSA Detach and send to: DEL-MAR-VA Council, BSA, 801 N. Washington Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Boy Scout 5K Sponsorship

Name: ___________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________ Phone: _____________________

Visa/MC: ____________________ Exp. ___/___ Check #:_________ Amount: ________

------------------------------

DISCLAIMER: The information in this message is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this message by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, or distribution of the message, or any action or omission taken by you in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. Please immediately contact the sender if you have received this message in error. Thank you.

-----------------------------

If I'm not mistaken...

a young man can join boy Scouts when

- he is 10-1/2years old and has

completed his Arrow of Light OR

- Completed 5th grade OR

- Is 11 through 17 years old.

The recent addition of an age requirement to the timing of AoL crossover has been dscussed at length in the forums this year.

Bob

Our troop has had 3 or 4 haning in the supply closet forever. This Fall the adult leaders took them on a campout and made single serving fruit pies w/ just bread and canned pie fillings. Yes, we did share! The boys have asked if they can use the irons on the next regular campout.

Ours lock together, they are approx. 4" x 4" with 2' long handles. I think that we made most of the pies w/ crispy crusts but if memory serves we did grease at least one of the irons.

Bob

I know that Scouts, Girl Scouts & Guides have played apart in many events with Pope John Paul. Based on his love of the outdoors and his commitment to youth I've been wondering if he was ever a Scout. A few quick searches turned up some interesting allusions but no direct connection.

One of his friends from his college years refers to "singing highland songs, camp songs, scout songs."

There are many hits that illustrate the inclusion of scouts in events like "World Yoth Day" gatherings for the last 10+ years.

and today it leapt to my ear as Wolfe Blitzer was interviuewing Colin Powell...

Powell recalled that during one of his audiences with Pope John Paul the pontiff teasingly asked several times if Colin was related to B-P. My Tiger Cub was competing for my attention so I missed anything else but it did prompt me to search "John Paul" & "Powell" instead of "Scouts" or "Scouting". It produced the following clip. I'd appreciate it if anone else who has stories would post them here as opposed to the original thread.

-Bob

I've included the first few paragraphs & the link.

http://ccs.ocbsa.org/popeonscouts.htm

Catholic Committee on Scouting

Diocese of Orange

POPE JOHN PAUL II - MESSAGE TO SCOUTING

Pope John Paul II spoke to Scouting's international officials in Oct. 1990. Parts of his address are included in the "Annex to the Catholic Scout Charter" approved by the Vatican in July 1992.

In line with the many instances in which my predecessors have praised the noble aims of your movement and its achievements on a world-wide scale since Lord Baden-Powell founded it just over 80 years ago, I assure you of my own personal appreciation of Scouting as a magnificent educational experience and form of social and religious commitment. I am happy to know that, today, over 16 million young people of all races, religions and cultures on every continent take part in Scouting. . . .

In . . . changing political and social circumstances . . . you are finding opportunities for a renewed presence of your organization in the countries of central and eastern Europe. You are also making notable progress in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, while Scouting continues to attract many young people in countries (where) it has been traditionally strong. I encourage you to continue to uphold the high ideals and challenging programs of personal development, friendship, brotherhood and service which make your movement so appealing to youth.

Good evening,

John Paul II is also a great example for our young people. As a young man he was an avid outdoorsman and active in writing and acting. How many of us dare to undertake those things? How many of our youth try to balnce them --perhaps we have an opportunity to share a very special story. Does anyone remember photos of John Paul II skiing and hiking?

At the NCEA (Nat'l Cath. Educators Assoc.) convention several years ago I saw a "trading card" that featured various aspects of his life. I thought it was great!

Most impressive to me was his desire to reach out to all. He went anywhere and met with anyone (to my recollection).

Bob

Wyomingi, for a moment I thought clams & lobsters were headed into that mlk can... sounds a lot like a few clambakes I've attended. What's the largest body of water in your neck of the woods?

Korea, any polynesian specialities?

Bob

Eagle, or shall I just call you... never mind.

You can start your own thread at your next campout or ceremonial fire, but to join the chain that goes back to the Jamboree / camporee in West Germany or Gilwell park d you need to be present at a campfre to which someone brings ashes with that "pedigree".... The point of the ceremony is to carry from one fire to the next the ashes of our own and other scouts past adventures.

I was most impressed three years ago when a scouter stepped up to the circle and took a very small envelope out of his wallte. He added his ashes to the fire while it was still buring brightly. When I met him the next morning he had representatives from two other troops in tow. He had shown them how to fold an envelope out of a sheet of paper in order to take a spoonful of ashes from their first Campfire Ashes ceremony.

No we take several copies of our up to date list with us whenever we go camping, our unit is pretty well known for doing a good job and are often asked to preside over that portion of the campfire at District events. (Okay, maybe they're just used to our guys asking if anyone has submitted the ceremony in leiu of a skit, song. cheer....

Take care and start your list soon. Our scoutmaster & Assistant brought them home from their training in 1988 and we're still going strong.

Bob

Off the top of my head units can convene Boards of Review for the Eagle rank with the permission of the District / Council Advancement chair. (I seem to recall the need for a representative of the District Board but this might be local folklore.)

Yopu might want to review the considerable number of threads of the role of Boards of Review. The members of the Board can't (should not!)retest and should only be held when the young man has met all requirements, enjoyed a Scoutmasters Conference and is truly ready to advance. The Board really reviews the unit's performance by interviewing the youn man. It doesn't seem that this will occur if the board is being conducted on the fly by members of the boys' own unit.

I often counsel gentle inquiry into any doubtful or questionable practices... sometimes as a unit loses its trained leaders and "continues" a practice that they didn't really understand in the first place.

Our district is currently revamping our Eagle Board. For many years a group of 6 or 7 highly respected community leaders provided at least 2 members to every board that was convened. Those few would recruit enough others, usually scouters, form a five or six person panel. The result was a rather impressive board and very interesting exchanges with the boys. Sitting as a troop representative I heard several things that we institutionalized & others that we worked hard to change. Those boards provided a real insight into how our troop was guiding young men on "the Trail to Eagle."

I genuinely regret that my son will not have the chance to share an hour or so w/ Tom Lodge, esq. who passed away last year.

Bob

Does this test count? When did you announce it, I don't remember you telling us! Can it be multiple choice & fill in the blank? I don't like essays!

And by the way -- I kinda hope this gets posted!

Bob

Just ruminating on the tree savings....

paper from trees, a renewable resource,

cd's from plastic, most likely non-renewable (my recollection is that most plastics are petroleum based ergo non-renewable.)

Let's just accept that we'd like the convenience, Would you like the entire book or just the requirements on-line?

Bob

(The devil's advocate has left the bulding.)