dsteele

TP -- Gotta admit that I laughed out loud. See, it is possible to spell out the words, LOL! DS

Bachelors Degree is required to become a professional scouter. That's the basic requirement, although it can be done with 10 years of management experience and an associates degree from an accredited college or university . . . it's a rare thing. What field the major is in isn't as important. From what I've seen, you'll find BSA professionals with majors across the board. I majored in Social Science and Business -- which was a mix of political science, history, economics, sociology, etc. and it has served me very well. But I know professionals who are doing well who have majored in everything from physical education to physics. As for direct advice to VentureScoutNY -- don't be discontent that your advisor doesn't understand the concept of professional Scouting. Few people do. After all, there are only about 3,500 commissioned professionals in the BSA. In fact, have fun with their ideas. When I started as a DE in a small district many moons ago, fresh out of college, a friend of mine wrote me and said, "So you're a professional Boy Scout. How many boys in your troop?" I responded truthfully . . . "898." His eyes bugged out. Good thing it was a small district. DS

Let's hope he does neither while flying his helicopter. I said his historical status was open for debate, didn't I DS

Let's go back to Indianna Jones for a moment . . . Harrison Ford doesn't advertise it much, but the reason Indianna Jones wasn't an Eagle Scout is that Harrison Ford is not an Eagle Scout. However, as a young man in 1957, Life Scout Harry Ford served on the nature staff at Camp Napowan of the Northwest Suburban Council (Mt. Prospect, IL) in Wild Rose, WI. DS Whether he's a historical figure is open to debate, however. D

Eamonn: Sorry to hear about the death of your old district. Can we turn this unfortunate happening into a teachable moment? I'm curious myself and would like to hear/read your thoughts. What is the role of Scouting professionals in England? I've heard that it is very different than here in the good old BS of A. DS

Trust the system, OGE. It will take care of you and your camp. DS

Adsum. Thanks, Eamonn, for relaying my greetings. I had forgotten, over the years, just how much fun being a D.E. is and am really enjoying it. There are great volunteers out there and some of them don't even know they're going to be BSA volunteers of one sort or another. I won't be able to spend a lot of time here for the forseeable future, but I'm having fun meeting as many people in the district as I can. I just got back from meeting my wife half way between the apartment and our house in Wisconsin and we had a wonderful time. We'll do the house hunting thing when she comes down in three weeks or so for Spring Break -- which will be the next time I get to see her. In the interim, the district gets 100% of my attention. Dave

Yes, I weart he knot on a few uniforms. It was a gift from my wife and I feel really good knowing that the council I made the gift in will receive some income from the interest on the $1000 for eternity. Yes, the $1000 is a national number and please remember that it is in addition to and not in lieu of your contribution to Friends of Scouting. DS

Emaonn: Our sense of humor nearly matches each other, so I hope you'r not offended by this snip. I just couldn't resist . . . You said, "Tony now is one of the biggest importers of canned fish to the UK. He is a great fellow and a wonderful cricket player. Eamonn " Not that we don't can fish in America, but I think there's a reason you won't find "Creative British Quisine" on the shelf at the local bookstore I say this in jest. It took my British Father-in-Law to convince me that leg of lamb (my favorite meat) is best served rare. On a serious note, I am packing up my computer late this evening and wlll leave in the morning for my new position. I'll be gone for the next three months or so. Dave

At the risk of incurring the wrath of fellow posters . . . Replies to a Schlemeel are best answered by a slamozel and there are none of those on board. DS

Where does one go in Clevleand for a fried egg sandwich on toast? They are getting hard to find and I will miss sitting at the lunch counter here, at the Park Inn - Overtrained knows of where I speak, as does CubsRgreat. Is there such a place, still, in Cleveland. I know I'll miss the counter, the wait staff, and the egg sandwich. City life is fine, but it is in the simple things I find pleasure. DS

I'm at home, on a vacation/packing day and am finishing out my final report to the council -- a lenghty thing. I opened my desk looking for my three hole punch (the 85-100 pages need to be bound) and it wasn't there. So I went upstairs to my wife's den, which I rarely enter) and found, of all things my merit badge sash. I thought it was long gone. I haven't seen it for years, but she had it safely in a drawer. As I looked at it's dim olive green, and looked at the small circles that represent much of my youth scouting career, I could remember something from each badge. I found this interesting since I earned the last one in 1982 or so and my Eagle in 1979. It made me smile and also made me wonder what merit badges you chose to earn as Scouts. Some have been discontinued due to lack of interest, others have spun off much as threads here spin off. Here is my list of merit badges in order of when they were earned (which is how my sash is sewn:) Geology, Architecture, basketry, fishing, gardening, first aid, sports, personal management, camping, leatherwork, emergency preparedness, firemanship, enviornmental science, bookbinding, communications, scholarship, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in the community, safety, citizenship in the world, computers, indian lore, wood carving, personal fitness, athletics, small boat sailing, law. Interesting memories. Please share yours. What was the highlight? Why did you take the first one? Do you recall? For example: I took geology because I was interested in the stuff that stuck to the magnet on my flashlight on my first campout. Turns out there were slivers of iron in the sand on that Lake Michigan dune and an ASM in the right place jumped on the opportunity to educate a young Scout due to his curiosity. DS

My favorite quote (I know it's only 3:39 PM on a Monday, but hey, I'm moving soon and am on vacation ) has to do with "Silent Cal" Calvin Coolidge. He was a man of few words. At a dinner party, a woman turned to him and said, "My friend bet me that you wouldn't say more than two words all evening. I think she's wrong, don't you?" Calvin looked at her and said, "You lose." And that was it. DS

Eamonn -- sorry about flooding your inbox. That wasn't my intent. You're welcome for the private message. To all: Thank you for the warmth and regards. It is truly humbling to receive them, but I don't consider myself to be more than an average professional. Your own DE and office professionals and other staff are at least as dedicated and as good as I am. Please take the time to get to know them. It's worth their time and yours. If you don't mind, please let me give one piece of advice to volunteers who want to keep their D.E. around -- actually, it's a request. Don't join in betting pools about how long they'll be in their job. I've seen and heard such things many times. Just ask yourself how long you would want to go to work knowing people were even joking about wagering on how long you'd be on the job. It isn't a good work atmosphere when that happens. Sorry about that. I didn't mean to be one more person airing a pet peeve on these boards. I'll see you guys this week and then on the other side once I land. Thanks for the thread and the well-wishes. They truly are appreciated, probably more than you know. Dave

All hail Hops Scout! As far as I am concerned, this young man is the embodiement of the reason we have the Boy Scouts of America. You're a good Scout, Hops and I'm proud to know you. Dave

Matua: Half a day yourself Actually, I haven't left yet, but am in the midst of doing so. I report for my new duties on March 1, but have the time in the interim to pack. I'll probably vanish from the forums for a while when I move to my new office and apartment late next week. My office doesn't have a computer and my apartment is too small . . . We'll see if the madness has ended once I'm actually settled in. In the meantime, I'll read what's going on here and pitch in when I feel I can. Dave

I'd be heartened to learn, as WHEELER said, "Aristotle is much more smarter than you and I yet he wrote of both the four causes and a prime mover." that Aristotle is much more smarter than all of us except that I fear that Aristotle had even less mastery over the English Language than does WHEELER. What's that you ask, how can I expect Aristotle to have mastery over the English Language? I don't. He was dead long before English was pertinent and those who came after him have translated his utterances as best they can. I do expect someone who quotes him to be accurate with his words, however. "More smarter" doesn't cut it. DS

I understand several things. I don't have quotes from philosophers -- actually I'm a fan of Machiavelli, but only for amusement and a hint of truth. I understand that Laurie (who's post I have admired for quite some time) does not get angry at other posters. She's angry with WHEEELER and rightly so. Eamonn has written him off -- Eamonn doesn't generally do that. I respect Eamonn greatly. OldGreyEagle -- whom I also admire and respect -- has used his wisdom and knowledge and has expressed dismay at WHEELER's posts. Bob White, whom I have met personally and like very much has also argued with WHEELER. So now I come to my own conclusions: I'm tired of the sophmoric claptrap wrapped in ancient philosophers. I'm tired or reading rantings from Battle Creek, MI from a man who is not involved in Boy Scouting -- but would rather see him rant here than influence Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts or Venturers in the council in which I grew up and received my Eagle. WHEELER -- you have ruffled the feathers of these good people and I ask that you stop. You probably won't, but I've never gotten much unless I've asked for it. DS

He's got you with that one. Good thing you're in a library DS

How about "The Doctor is IN" theme? You could have the registration desk look like Lucy's psychologist office on the Peanuts strip. Staff could wear scrubs or lab coats and generally spin it in a medical, psychological, or university type theme. Just a thought. DS

Happy, happy birthday, Hops! And many more to come! I was born on a cold December day in 1965 in a hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. DS

I won't enter the debate on a new uniform, but I do want to point out that there is a current BSA dress uniform. You can find it in your catalog. The dress uniform consists of a blue blazer, with pewter buttons bearing the BSA logo, a silver, blue and red tie, and gray slacks. There is also an emblem to be worn on the pocket. Any adult registered with the Boy Scouts of America can wear it, but it's rarely seen worn by other than professional staff or executive board members. Ladies registered with the BSA wear a scarf and skirt rather than the tie and slacks, but other than that, the uniform is the same. Have fun with the thread, I'm enjoying it. DS

Great thread! I think it's too easy to let a bad headline allow us to forget that life is mostly good. I don't have any specific good news to share at the moment, but I honestly believe that around the country (and, in deference to our BSA friends in other countries, around the world:) Today and in the recent past and soon-to-come future: A new family joined Scouting for the very first time-- what an entrance to adventure! A Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venturer (s) learned a new skill or put an old one to use. The Scout Oath and Law were recited hundreds of thousands of times by very sincere young men who are doing their best to live up to it. Some leaders are going to go home this evening knowing they are doing great things to help their local youth. Somewhere out there, this very evening, Scouts are taking Boards of Review and will pass . . . but they don't know that yet. What a sweet feeling they will have as they go to bed one rank higher than when they awoke this morning. There's no way to prove or disprove this one -- but I think some Boy Scouts are going to learn to tie a bowline tonight that never would have learned if it weren't for the BSA. In short, there's lots of good news. All we have to do is wave away the thundercloud and look for the sunshine. DS

In answer to the Scouting magazine question, call your council service center and speak to your DE. I recommend registering as College Scouter Reserve. Paying the registration fee will continue your Scouting magazine. Did I say that out loud? Back to looking for an apartment in Cleveland. DS

This thread got me thinking. Well, this thread, and the 3 yard cuts of 10 different fabrics I got for Christmas, got me thinking. I enjoyed reading about everyone's hobbies and posted my own. Then, when the thread re-surfaced, I re-read it and realized that I haven't quilted, or sewn, or read any good books for the past several months. I've been doing Scouting stuff as part of my job by day, and diving into these forums by night and weekend. I realized that Scouting has become my hobby as well as my job. I have also realized that doing so is not exactly constructive to good mental health I have enjoyed my time with you good people, but it's time to go back to quilting, sewing, reading and making chess sets once in a while when I have a free evening or weekend. Thanks for your friendship. I appreciate your kindness, but I've got to get back into the habit of using my off-time for shutting the brain off and doing someting other than Scouting. I'll miss you, but I hope you understand. Dave