dsteele

PostmasterSteve: Actually, they don't go on the uniform at all. I wasn't even aware there is a patch for the fireman chit -- but the Uniform Insignia Guide is clear on what goes where. Put them proudly on a patch vest or blanket. Welcome to the forums! Unc.

Speaking as a trained COPE Director, although it was a long time ago, I would grant that you have handled the situation very well. My suggestion (because I feel the exercise is important for the boy and that it's equally important that you convince Mom) is that you invite her to watch. Invite the son and the father to take their walk. You go on the trust fall first and allow the boys to catch you. Take the plunge with absolute faith (they can do it!) Then take Mom off to the side and explain that if they wouldn't let you hit the ground, they will not let her son. It may be worth the gamble. Unc.

Hops: It's time to get off center and go to your Scoutmaster and district advancement chairman with your idea. It sounds good to me. Don't overthing or look too hard for support that isn't needed. Like a football game, you can't do a darn thing without moving forward. best of luck, young man! Unc.

I, too, saw the Boy Scouts in uniform saluting his coffin. It was fantastic and my eyes misted immediately. I shook his hand and spoke briefly with him in the White House in 1987. He was a man who appeared to everyone else at the reception to be their height. I'm short and he was 6'1". Yet when we spoke we saw eye-to-eye. He was an amazing communicator. To large groups and one on one. I can't claim to be his friend, but he was a great writer of letters. There's a handwritten note from him to me in my dining room china cabinet. God rest Ronald Reagan! Unc.

Eamonn and others are partially correct when it comes to citizenship requirements for adult leaders. I've spent a bit of time over the years studying arcane bits of Scouting rules, and am confident in this area. A few years ago, to be an adult leader in the BSA, one had to be a U.S. Citizen or have Declared Intent (I never was able to find out what that phrase means) and subscribe to the BSA principles. The citizenship requrement in the Bylaws was dropped in 1999 or 2000 and became what Bob White described. BSAbrit -- you qualify for the Scoutmaster job. It's up to you whether you accept it or not. Unc.

May the Blessings of the Lord be with this boy. May His hand guide him into the light of salvation and eternal joy. May His blessings be with the family, the friends, the leaders both within and without Scouting. Sometimes bad things just happen. Healthy trees can be felled by unexpected storms. It happens fairly frequently. I feel the most for the father who, it seems, sufered only minor injuries and awoke to a dead son. It must be terrible. Unc.

I haven't been able to stop crying for very long all day. I don't cry for Ronald Reagan, I cry for me. I'm going to miss knowing that he is on this earth. Without President Reagan, I would not have a college education. Without the college education, I never would have met my wife. I never would have been able to embark on my career. I won't go into further detail. I will ask my boss tomorrow for permission to go to Washington D.C. to see the motorcade and pay my final respects. Then I'll fly back home for my meetings on Thursday. God Bless the greatest President of the twentieth century! Unc.

Not trying to be concilliatory, but I think Eamonn and Bob White both have part of it right. The best results I have seen in my pack from boy talks is when the DE AND someone from the unit did it together. The DE is a pro -- he's a great speaker and gets the kids all jazzed up. Then he turns to me and says, "Mr. Guinea, tell them what they get to do this month when they join." Then I tell them about the picnic next week, the games we're going to play, our summer field trips, etc. Specific stuff the DE doesn't have on the tip of his brain. I'm also the one they're going to see on a regular basis, so if I can get them to like me in a few moments, the odds that they will join go way up. If someone from our pack can't make it, we at least try to give the DE a copy of our upcoming schedule so he can give a pitch specific to our pack. Unc.

Thanks for the echo, eisely. To add to my earlier advice to Tiger Dad, I stress that the place to call is your council office. Speak to the Finance Director or another professional in charge of fund-raising. They'll know specific BSA ins-and-outs. I don't advise you to call your state or the IRS unless instructed to do so. I have advised units that have done this as a commissioner and they have gotten different answers with every phone call. Most tax people don't understand the BSA charter concept or who owns the unit and will likely just confuse you (and frustrate you with a lot of dead ends.) When I worked with the office years ago as Scoutmaster, the BSA pros were definately more knowledgeable. Hope this helps. Unc.

Just a couple of rhetorical questions to get your minds working. Do you consider your position (s) in Scouting to be as important to you as the boy's positions in Scouting are, or should be, to them? What is your term limit? How would you feel if someone told you, "you can do this job for six months and then never again?" Unc.

tiger Dad: For the answer to this question, I strongly urge you to call your council office and ask for the Finance Director. The rules vary somewhat by state and you won't find a definitive answer here. Unc.

I didn't have a problem with sheath knives until my uncle told me a story. He used to be a professor at a local college and taught wilderness survival type stuff. On one occasion, one of the students had a sheath knife strapped to his belt in the back. Someone else tried to pull a joke and steal the knife. The student felt it coming out of the sheath and reached back quickly to stop the would-be thief's hands. He grabbed the open blade instead. If you don't need something that could harm you or someone else, why carry it?

Sctldr: Hear! Hear! The only difference noticible to the registrant is that MC's don't get program helps in their Scouting magazine -- which they don't need if they're serving a committee-type job or don't help plan the regular troop meetings. Unc.

When I was a Scout, we carried the wreath at the local veteran's memorial to the single headstone for all those lost in WWII. I was carrying it on behalf of my Uncle Elmer who never returned from his last mission as a Staff Seargent in New Guinea, Army Air Corps. Today I just finished my lone man service project. I'm new to the area, so I don't know many people, but one of my traditions on Memorial Day is to call the veterans I'm aware of and thank them for their service. Sometimes they want to talk about it, but most of the time they graciously accept the thank you and are deeply appreciative of the call. Today I talked to: A man who survived the Battle of the Bulge A man who was a b-52 pilot A man who was a POW in Vietnam for 8 years A retired Vietnam-Era Sergeant Major And about 10 others who have sacrificed so much for our benefit. Thanks to all who serve. Unc.

Welcome to the forums and welcome to Scouting! I'm sure you'll enjoy the time you spend. Best of luck to you. Unc.

Thank you gentlemen. I think you both understand what I mean. It would be nice to hear from everyone what the veterans mean to us. The feeling should be expressed year round, but especially on the morrow. Unc.

Ozemu: I am deeply touched and nearly moved to tears by your respect for the U.S. Veterans and for our holiday. I salute you, sir, and will say a similar prayer for your nation's deceased on 11/11. Unc.

Hi guys and gals: I have no idea where this thread will go, but I hope all will take a deep breath and realize that tomorrow is the day we're supposed to remember all veterans, especially those who fell in battle for the USA. There has been a lot of fighthing going on in the issues and politics section in the last few days. I've read it, but haven't participated. Atheist or homosexual, republican or democrat, Kerry fan or Bush fan, can we not all agree to take a break. Maybe drink a beer and have a good brat as we praise the men and women who have served our country through battles both popular, unpopular and fought, or unfought? Or those who spent time preparing to fight for our freedoms who had the fortune not to need to do so? Give it a rest for a day, would you? Unc.

Amen, Eamonn. I missed the dedication, but will not miss the memorial. Tomorrow is Memorial Day. It is a time to thank the veterans of all conflicts. Hats off to the Greatest Generation. I shudder to think of what the world would look like if they had failed. Thank you to all veterans of all branches of service. Unc.

One thing to add to Fuzzy's posts: Remember that if you start at the top of the list, every person you ask to be Scoutmaster is your #1 choice. Use that. They're #1 because everyone above them on the list has said no. If the guy or gal you ask first says "yes," you're still good. If the last guy/gal say "yes," you're still good. Of course whoever you ask will probably be the last person you ask. It's an old axiom: "Why is it that you find something in the last place you look?" Answer: "Because you stop looking after you find it." Unc.

I like the way Kiwanis does it. I've been in a couple of different clubs. Generally, after joining the club, someone hands you a form and asks "Which committee would you like to be on?" Not checking a box is an implied non-option. Some actually assign you to a committee and that's not as effective. Perhaps asking a parent to chose from a list of tasks or jobs is a good way to go. Unc.

Actually, I just got done looking at a council sponsored on-line Tiger Cub presentation. It appears that the orange shirts will remain, but that Tiger Cubs will have the option of wearing the blue uniform if they choose to do so. Can anyone clarify this? Unc.

I think FOG sneezed. Unc.

Post script to the above. When we were Scouts, we loved the dutch oven. It was cast iron and it was the one pot that not only did you not HAVE to wash it, you COULD NOT wash it. Just wipe it out real good with a paper towel and you were done. Unc.

I've been in Scouting for over 30 years and dutch ovens were always part of Scouting. It's tough to make a decent cobbler on a backpacking stove! We used to do bean hole beans (cooking in a hole while away on a hike) and even cooked pizza and cakes in a dutch oven. If weight isn't an issue and someone knows how to use one, they're great. Kind of like having a real oven out in the woods. Unc.