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briantshore

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Posts posted by briantshore

  1. We use Packmaster for record keeping.  Primarily for me as the Cubmaster.  For communications, we use a free website called Scoutlander.  Here are the key area's I like about this site.

     

    1.  It is secure.

    2.  You can match parents up with youth

    3.  You can add a picture of the individual with their profile.  It works great matching names to faces.

    4.  It has a calendar

    5.  It sends out E-mail notices 48 hours prior to an event as a reminder

     

    Here is a link to set it up.

     

    http://www.scoutlander.com/PublicSite/home.aspx

  2. Also remember, you must have been registered for that position. Example: You are registered as Assistant Cubmaster. You fill in because there is not a Webelos Den Leader for 1 year. Even if you did all the work, it will not count because you were not registered in that position. This link will also give you requirements for knots that have been retired.

     

  3.  

    ~~I've heard it and I don't care for that term at all and wish it was never coined. A scout has no obligation, absolutely none, to do anything in the OA. Who's to say that the scout isn't active and supporting his unit just because he never does anything with the lodge or chapter? He certainly didn't pledge to do so at the ordeal

     

     

    Wrong!!! All members pledge.

     

     

    I, John Doe, on my honor as a scout, will always and faithfully observe and preserve the traditions of the order of the arrow.

     

     

    If you take the obligation to be a member, that means you are expected to live up to the oath. Just like the scout promise and law.

     

     

     

    • Upvote 1
  4. A parent in our troop registered a exchange student from China so he could attend a troop campout. Looking further down the line, would we have him do advancement while he is here. What do you do about requirements like the pledge of allegiance for the Scout badge? Any thoughts?

  5. When I was a scout "75-79" merit badge and skill award classes were in the morning slots only. Afternoon and evenings were open camp, or time to work on your badges on your own. We were encouraged to visit every area in camp and at least try every area. Water front, pool, scoutcraft, handycraft, shooting sports, and Eco-con. By doing this we had more chances to try new things, and perhaps taking badges in those area's in the future. If not, just have a more enjoyable camp with doing the fun things you liked.

  6. Camp Loud Thunder {Illowa Council}did a pilot program last year introducing pistol shooting for scouts. I believe there was a age level of 14, Each troop received 2 slots to fill. Our council had several volunteers step forward to help with instruction. 1 per 2 boys on the range. From what I understand, this year several more camps are doing it around the country.

  7. I have several issues. Example: I have arleady earned my Scout Leader Training Award for the troop. I am currently Pack Trainer. Once I have my 2 years in do I put the Cub Pin on that know along with the Boy Scout Pin? Or just the Cub Pin. In the military, you usuallly do not add a device unless you have received the same award more than once.

     

    I bought the Pack Trainer knots when I heard the system was changing. Later I found out you had to be finished by the endof 2012. I will have my time up in May 2014. Is it wrong to substitute the older knot?

     

    My other issue is the changes in the den leader award program. Do you add a pin for the Tiger year, another for Wolf/Bear, and another for Webelos?

  8. In the last few years, our pack has played music during the procession of the boys for Arrow of Light. We have used the theme music from Band of Brothers. I also found a song that would be good a month ago. The theme song from the TV shows "Star Trek Enterprise". You can find both of these on Youtube.

     

  9. Indoor Snowball Fight. Kids - vs - Adults

     

    I work in the retail buisness. Our store saves plastic shrink wrap that comes with boxes of merchadise. I got the ok from the store manager to use some of this materal. During lunch hour for 2 weeks I made plastic snowballs and sealed them with packing tape that I bought. My goal was 400 snowballs, but I think I ended up with around 300. Our church has a gym, and we split them between the kids and the adults and let them have fun. No parents were allowed to miss out on the fun. I have them in my basement to be used again next year.

     

  10. Indoor Snowball Fight. Kids - vs - Adults

     

    I work in the retail buisness. Our store saves plastic shrink wrap that comes with boxes of merchadise. I got the ok from the store manager to use some of this materal. During lunch hour for 2 weeks I made plastic snowballs and sealed them with packing tape that I bought. My goal was 400 snowballs, but I think I ended up with around 300. Our church has a gym, and we split them between the kids and the adults and let them have fun. No parents were allowed to miss out on the fun. I have them in my basement to be used again next year.

     

  11. Indoor Snowball Fight. Kids - vs - Adults

     

    I work in the retail buisness. Our store saves plastic shrink wrap that comes with boxes of merchadise. I got the ok from the store manager to use some of this materal. During lunch hour for 2 weeks I made plastic snowballs and sealed them with packing tape that I bought. My goal was 400 snowballs, but I think I ended up with around 300. Our church has a gym, and we split them between the kids and the adults and let them have fun. No parents were allowed to miss out on the fun. I have them in my basement to be used again next year.

     

  12. Good Topic.

    This is exactly why I am in my current position. When my son crossed over I told the scoutmaster that I was going to stay with the Pack. Even though I did not have another younger son, I had seen how the pack had struggled without the experianced leadership. I later joined the troop as a Assistant Scoutmaster. My first priority is the pack, but I was hopeing to form that bridge between the 2 levels. That was 4 years ago, and I am just starting to see the results from my efforts.

     

  13. Started in the early 70's. We had a scoutmaster in our town that always drove a white station wagon. You would see him going through town every weekend with as many boys as he could stuff in the vehicle. No Seatbelts, only one adult, tour plan??? whats that, but they were going camping somewhere and going to have a great time.

     

    Order of the Arrow: In my lodge, you were led off in the woods after being taped out with just a sleepingbag and a poncho. You slept alone in the woods. You were give a wax paper cup with 2 matches, 1 raw egg, 2 strips of bacan, and a small amoung of aluminum foil to cover the cup. In the morning you had to build your fire, and cook your breakfast with what you were given. Later that day you had a red arrow painted on your forhead. A wooden ice cream spoon with a red arrow painted on it. We worked around camp all morning. If we were caught talking, you had your spoon broken. If you were caught talking again, and you had a broken spoon, you were out, and would have to try again next year. This was all a true right of passage. At he end of the day, we really felt that we had passed a ordeal.

  14. As I look back at my years of scouting, I did not miss many campouts, but here are 2 that come to mind.

     

     

    Blackhawk Council, Sauk District Camporee, 1977. There is a stone bridge in Northern Illinois that Abraham Lincoln is said to have camped near when he served during the Blackhawk War. This camporee was helping to rebuild some fo the stones in the bridge that was falling apart with age.

     

    Troop 45, Savanna Illinois. This was a troop campout around 1976-77. This was a troop campout held south of Mt. Carroll, Illinois. It was held on a farm where one of the boys in the troop lived. We were allowed to slaughter some chickens, pluck them and cook them. Those that attended talked about it for years to come.

     

     

    Do you have a Unit/District/Council campout that you missed out on?

  15. I glanced over your story, and see there are more than one.

     

    Equipment: Over the years I have picked up material from former units that have folded. Perhaps there are some out there for you. Contact your District Executive to see if there are units that have folded over the past few years. There may be a larger troop that is upgrading and would offer some of there surplus equipment.

     

    As far as events to attend, perhaps you are near a the border of your council. Your are in NW Illinois like I am. See what that neighboring council has going on. This can help if there is a conflict with dates, or distance to travel.

  16. 6 short sleeve shirts

    2 for the Troop (Assistant Scoutmater)

    3 for the Pack (Cubmaster)One brand new. The others have small stains and blemishes.

    1 for (Unit Commissioner)

     

    1 old style shorts

    1 centennial pants

    2 old style pants

    1 nylon zip off pants

  17. My first time as a den leader, I bought some blue material like the uniform shirt. Had it folded over, and sewn. Then had each boy tacky glue patches on the flag. Council Patch, Pack numbers and den tab on each side. Then had gromets punched into it to attach on to the flag pole.

  18. I have 2 older uniforms. The Boy Scout one was bought on E-bay and was listed from the 1950's. I have a Cub Scout one that has a patch dated from 1960. Both have metal buttons that are held on by wire split rings like on a key chain, but smaller and thinner. During day camp in 2010, I had a display for the scouts to see. Another leader and I were discussing how they were held on. He thought it was so they could be removed when the shirt went through the old washing machine ringer. This would prevent them from being crushed. Does anyone know if this is correct, or have a different idea?

     

    Thanks

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